NOAA Fisheries Service received a petition in April 2007 to list distinct population segments (DPSs) of five Puget Sound rockfish species under the Endangered Species Act. After a careful review of the information presented in the petition, and of information available in agency files, the Northwest Region found that the petition failed to present substantial scientific and commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted.
NOAA Fisheries Service received supplemental information from the petitioner in late October 2007. It presented information that was not included in the April 2007 petition, and requested reconsideration of the decision not to initiate an ESA review of the species’ status. The Northwest Region found that the April 2007 petition, as supplemented by the information included in the October 2007 letter, presented substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. The agency initiated a status review of these five rockfish species to determine if they warrant ESA listing.
March 2008: Decision to accept ESA petition for 5 species of Puget Sound rockfish
October 2007: ESA "not warranted" decisions for 5 species of Puget Sound rockfish
