NOAA Fisheries Service has received several petitions to list various species of marine fish in Puget Sound under the Endangered Species Act. Any person can petition the Secretary (of Commerce or the Interior) to list or de-list a species under the ESA. Within 90 days after receiving a petition, to the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary must make a finding as to whether the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. If a petition is found to present such information, the Secretary must promptly begin a review of the petitioned species’ status to determine if it merits ESA listing.

NOAA Fisheries Service is responsible for ESA listing actions that fall under the Secretary of Commerce. See the links to the left for petitions to the Northwest Region for Puget Sound marine fishes and related actions.