Conservation Group Sues U.S. Agency Over King Salmon Protection
A Washington-based conservation organization has filed a lawsuit to expedite the federal government’s review of a proposal to list king salmon as threatened or endangered in the Gulf of Alaska. The Wild Fish Conservancy submitted the lawsuit in U.S. District Court this week, claiming the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) failed to meet a 12-month deadline established under the Endangered Species Act for a response to their petition submitted on January 11, 2024.
Emma Helverson, the conservancy’s executive director, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “With the crisis facing Alaskan chinook, we are out of time and options.” The suit demands a court order for the NMFS to issue a decision by a specified date, highlighting systemic issues within the agency as other proposals have also languished without timely action.
Jon Kurland, an Alaska NMFS official, acknowledged receipt of the petition and confirmed that the agency is still working on the required finding. Doug Vincent-Lang, Alaska’s fish and game commissioner, described the lawsuit as routine but expressed concerns regarding the implications of an Endangered Species Act listing. He stated, “I’d much rather have them take their time and have a deliberative process than to rush to a decision.”
The Wild Fish Conservancy argues that Alaska king salmon face numerous threats, including accidental harvest in trawl fisheries, habitat destruction, climate change, and overfishing. Vincent-Lang and others worry that listing the species could lead to restrictive measures not only affecting king salmon but also impacting other fisheries.
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