Endangered Species Conservation (original) (raw)
NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service share responsibility for implementing the Endangered Species Act. We are responsible for most marine species, including whales, seals, sharks, and coral. We also implement measures to protect anadromous species—ones that migrate between fresh and saltwater. U.S. FWS is responsible for terrestrial and freshwater species, as well as sea birds, sea otters, manatees, and polar bears. The two agencies share jurisdiction over species such as sea turtles, Gulf Sturgeon, and Atlantic salmon.
Under the ESA, a species is considered:
- Endangered if it is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range
- Threatened if it is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range
Listing Threatened and Endangered Species
Before a species can receive the protections provided by the ESA, it must first be added to the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. We are responsible for deciding whether species meet the requirements to be listed. This process often starts with a person or organization petitioning for us to list a species as threatened or endangered. Once we have determined that a species may be threatened or endangered, it becomes a candidate for listing.
Learn more about the listing process
Species petitions being evaluated
Candidate species for ESA listing
Species proposed for ESA listing
Protecting Listed Species
Endangered Species Prohibited Actions
Under the ESA, anyone under the jurisdiction of the United States is prohibited from doing the following regarding endangered species:
- Importing or exporting the species
- Selling and/or offering to sell the species in interstate or foreign commerce
- Delivering, receiving, carrying, transporting, or shipping the species in interstate or foreign commerce during the course of a commercial activity
- Harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, shooting, wounding, killing, trapping, capturing, or collecting the species within the United States, within U.S. territorial seas, or on the high seas, or attempting any of these activities
Threatened Species Regulations
The prohibited activities that apply to all endangered species do not automatically apply to species listed as threatened. We are responsible for identifying the activities that need to be regulated or prohibited to protect threatened species based on their specific biology, threats, and needs.
Learn more about protective regulations for threatened species
Permits and Authorizations
We issue permits and authorizations that allow individuals and groups to engage in activities that are otherwise prohibited under the ESA for specific purposes. Examples of activities covered by these permits include:
- Researching listed species to improve scientific understanding or support conservation
- Possessing parts or products of a listed species that are more than 100 years old
- Incidentally engaging in prohibited activities while conducting otherwise lawful activities
Find a list of protected resources permits and authorizations
Monitoring Threatened and Endangered Species
Once a species is listed, we monitor their population and review their status every 5 years to ensure that the listing is still accurate. These 5-year reviews may kick off the process for reclassifying or delisting a species.
Learn more about conducting 5-year reviews
Designating Critical Habitats
One of the main goals of the ESA is to conserve the areas or habitat features that threatened and endangered species depend on for survival and recovery. Examples of these critical habitats include nursing, pupping, or breeding sites or foraging areas.
We are responsible for determining whether there are areas that meet the definition of critical habitat for listed marine and anadromous species and designating these areas based on the best available scientific data.
Critical habitat designations only apply to federal actions. They do not affect land ownership or restrict private citizens’ use of the area. Once critical habitat is designated, federal agencies are required to consult with us to ensure any actions they fund, authorize, or take part in are not likely to destroy or harm the critical habitat.
View critical habitat designations and maps
Recovering Species
Endangered and threatened species have different needs that require different conservation strategies to achieve recovery. We set goals for each species’ recovery, which are laid out in recovery plans. Each plan outlines the tasks required to reduce or eliminate threats and restore or establish self-sustaining wild populations, so that they no longer require ESA protections.
Recovery actions depend on the particular species, its life history needs, and the threats it faces. Examples of the wide range of conservation measures we implement include:
- Restoring habitats
- Reducing bycatch in fisheries
- Releasing “experimental” populations
Learn more about the recovery process under the ESA
Learn about our Species in the Spotlight initiative
Delisting a Species
After a species has recovered, we remove the species from the list—this is known as “delisting.” Then we monitor the species status for no less than 5 years after delisting to ensure its recovery is sustained.
Consulting on Federal Actions
We consult with other federal agencies on any action they take that may impact listed species or their critical habitat. Consultations are designed to help federal agencies meet the requirement that their actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a species or destroy designated critical habitat. The consultation process varies depending on the complexity of the project or action.
Read about the ESA consultation process
Enforcing the Endangered Species Act
We work with local, state, and other federal agencies to enforce ESA rules and regulations in U.S. federal, state, and territorial waters.