Research Permits & Evaluations for
Pacific Salmon & Steelhead Listed
Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)

What's New

• February 13, 2004 - Summary of ESA Section 10 Scientific Research Applications Available for Public Comment
• March 29, 2004 - Outmigration Estimates of Juvenile Salmonids Arriving at Selected Columbia River Dams (Adobe Acrobat PDF - 2563 kb)

Background
Individuals planning to conduct any activity that may "take" (harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect) a threatened or endangered species must possess a permit to perform that activity.  Section 10 of the ESA allows the National Marine Fisheries Service to issue permits for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of listed species. "Section 10" permits may also be issued to entities engaging in lawful activities that may incidentally take a listed species.  To allow for processing time, and to ensure the timely issuance of a permit (should one be granted), individuals are urged to apply at least four months prior to the start of proposed activities.

In addition, the National Marine Fisheries Service has created a section 4(d) limitation on ESA take prohibitions for tribal resource management plans, where the Secretary of Commerce has determined that implementing that Tribal Plan will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery for the listed species. Under this 4(d) rule, Indian Tribes can submit Tribal Resource Management Plans (e.g., research plans) for review by the National Marine Fisheries Service.  Before making a final determination, the Secretary shall seek comment from the public on his pending determination whether or not implementation of a Tribal Plan will appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the listed salmonids. The Secretary shall publish notification in the Federal Register of any determination regarding a Tribal Plan and the basis for that determination (see What's New above).

• Applications for Section 10 permits, a table for displaying take amounts, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about ESA permits are available online at the NMFS Office of Protected Resources.
• Guidelines for Electrofishing Waters Containing Salmonids Listed under the Endangered Species Act

(Backpack Electrofishing Guidelines, NMFS, June 2000) 74kb pdf file

• NMFS Fisheries Permits Office
• California Department of Fish and Game
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 
• Idaho Department of Fish and Game 
  
  Globe indicates a link that is not on a Federal Government web server.

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* Written comments must be received by NMFS on or before the comment period closing date specified below.  Comments should be emailed to the address in the Federal Register Notice or mailed to:
    NMFS Protected Resources Division
    525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500
    Portland, OR  97232-2737
 

Permit #	Link to Permit Application & Related Correspondence (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the applications)	Federal Register Notice	Closing Date  for Public Comments	NMFS Permit Contact	Salmon or Steelhead Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) Addressed by the Proposed Research
1203	Permit 1203 (1.7 mb)	69 FR 54131 (55kb)	10/7/2004	Rob Clapp	Upper Columbia River chinook salmon and steelhead
1498	Permit 1498 (401 kb)	69 FR 54131 (55kb)	10/7/2004	Christopher Bill	Puget Sound chinook and Hood Canal chum salmon
1502	Permit 1502 (819 kb)	69 FR 54131 (55kb)	10/7/2004	Rob Clapp	Upper Columbia River chinook salmon and steelhead
1504	Permit 1504 (211 kb)	69 FR 54131 (55kb)	10/7/2004	Christopher Bill	Puget Sound chinook and Hood Canal chum salmon