A. The above Covenant Not to Sue only becomes effective with Commission action such that:

Similar documents
Backgrounder and Frequently Asked Questions

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE JOINT STAFF REPORT - WINTER FACT SHEET NO.

ESCA. Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 Changed in 1973 to ESA Amended several times

Attachment 1. Agenda Item Summary BACKGROUND

2017 Non-Treaty Columbia River Summer/Fall Fishery Allocation Agreement June 15, 2017

Recreational Sturgeon Commercial Shad MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE JOINT STAFF REPORT - FALL FACT SHEET NO.

MEMORANDUM Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE JOINT STAFF REPORT - SPRING FACT SHEET NO.

Columbia River Fishery Notice

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) STIPULATION AND NOTICE

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE JOINT STAFF REPORT: SUMMER FACT SHEET NO. 1 Columbia River Compact June 13, 2012

Case 6:17-cv MC Document 1 Filed 05/22/17 Page 1 of 12

Nez Perce Treaty of 1855

Olympic National Park Fishing and Shellfish Regulations

MEMORANDUM Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE JOINT STAFF REPORT SUMMER FACT SHEET NO.

18 March 2016 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE JOINT STAFF REPORT - WINTER FACT SHEET NO.

107 FERC 61,282 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Meeting in Support of Species at Risk Act Listing Process for Lower Fraser River and Upper Fraser River White Sturgeon

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE JOINT STAFF REPORT SUMMER FACT SHEET NO. 1 June 10, 2010

Spring-run Chinook Salmon Reintroduction Experimental Population Designation Elif Fehm-Sullivan National Marine Fisheries Service

Tuesday, April 10, 2018, 5:08 PM

2012 JOINT STAFF REPORT: STOCK STATUS AND FISHERIES FOR FALL CHINOOK SALMON, COHO SALMON, CHUM SALMON, SUMMER STEELHEAD, AND WHITE STURGEON

2018 Sport Fishing Regulations Exhibit B

Hatchery Scientific Review Group Review and Recommendations

Joint Columbia River Management Staff

Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries: 2013 and Beyond

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: Inland Fisheries - Hatchery Management

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF OREGON MEDFORD DIVISION ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

2019 Policies and Regulations Commissioners and staff reviewed Narrative Descriptions of each options, no changes were proposed.

TESTIMONY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY TRIBES BEFORE PACIFIC FISHERIES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL April 12, 2010 Portland, OR

Tuesday, April 10, 2018, 5:04 PM


Steelhead Sport Fishing Regulations Proposals Vancouver Island Region for April 1, 2007

2018 COM Doc. No. COC-307B/ 2018 November 18, 2018 (3:11 PM)

Sixty-Day Notice Of Intent To Sue For Clean Water Act Violations By Suction Dredge Mining On Salmon River Without A Permit

Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested. November 30, 2012

Unless otherwise noted, images throughout the presentation are by FWC.

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE JOINT STAFF REPORT - WINTER FACT SHEET NO.

JOINT STAFF REPORT WINTER FACT SHEET NO. 9 Columbia River Compact March 18, 2004

May 13, Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested

Hatchery Scientific Review Group Review and Recommendations

In the area between the U.S./Canada border and the Queets River, the landing and possession limit is 50

Kirt Hughes Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 6 - Fish Program Manager

ESTIMATED RETURNS AND HARVEST OF COLUMBIA RIVER FALL CHINOOK 2000 TO BY JOHN McKERN FISH PASSAGE SOLUTIONS

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Annual. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Bass Nursery Areas 21 April 2015 UK Measures Forum Guidelines and Proposals

Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan;

Columbia River Sturgeon in Decline. Recommendation for Harvest Reform

TABLE 1. Commercial troll management measures adopted by the Council for non-indian ocean salmon fisheries, 2016.

2008 Adult Returns and 2009 Expectations Columbia River

Endangered Species Act Application in New York State What s New? October 4, 2015 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Robyn A. Niver

77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Regular Session. Enrolled. Senate Bill 830

A genetic analysis of the Summer Steelhead stock composition in the 2011 and 2012 Columbia River sport and treaty fisheries

Implementing Hatchery Reform in the State of Idaho

FORMERLY THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR MARINE CONSERVATION (NCMC) Billfish Conservation Act Implementing Regulations; NOAA-NMFS

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2018

145 FERC 62,070 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Joint Columbia River Management Staff

Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules

Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c East John Street Seattle, Washington (206) , Fax (206)

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands;

Appendix B. Data on Aquatic Focal Species: Adult returns to TMFD, Disposition, Escapement, Artificial Production, and Harvest

Conditions of Issue Game Licence

North Carolina Aquaculture Plan for American Eel Management Board August 2 nd, 2017

Hatchery Scientific Review Group Review and Recommendations

U.N. Gen. Ass. Doc. A/CONF.164/37 (8 September 1995) < pdf?openelement>.

DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE Fisheries Division 6980 Sierra Center Parkway, Ste 120 Reno, Nevada (775) Fax (775)

Exhibit C. Mike Gauvin -Recreational Fisheries Program Manager. September 14 th 2018

Incidental Take Permits for HCP Plan Species

REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. FISHING LICENSE (THIRD IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENT) REGULATIONS OF 2009 (Title 51 MIRC ) ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATION

Fisheries Management Plan Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Sports Fish Spawning Surveys Results of sports fish spawning surveys, June 2016-June 2017 in the West Coast Fish & Game Region

Old Document: Sandy River Coho Final HGMP 78 pages (1.18 MB) 12/10/2013 3:11:23 PM

COLLATION OF PRELIMINARY SALMON MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR 2018 OCEAN FISHERIES

Case 1:10-cv Document 1 Filed 05/27/10 Page 1 of 18 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS

Perspectives of a State Director Selective fisheries as a tool in fisheries management and salmon recovery

NICOMEN SLOUGH/NORRISH CREEK RECREATIONAL FISHERY ASSESSMENT October 13 th to November 30 th, 2008

FALL FACT SHEET NO. 1 Columbia River Compact July 29, Non-Indian Select Areas

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE THE FEDERAL REGULATORY ENERGY COMMISSION

Endangered Species Act and FERC Hydroelectric Projects. Jeff Murphy & Julie Crocker NHA New England Meeting November 16, 2010

IC Chapter 34. Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation

79th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Regular Session. Enrolled

2009 JOINT STAFF REPORT CONCERNING STOCK STATUS AND FISHERIES FOR STURGEON AND SMELT

2007 Adult Returns and 2008 Expectations Columbia River

Lyons Ferry Hatchery and Production of Snake River Fall Chinook: A Qualified Success Story.

Staff, Organizations Directly Affected (including but not limited to):

Summary of HSRG Findings for Chum Populations in the Lower Columbia River and Gorge

August 2, 2016 MEMORANDUM. Council Members. SUBJECT: Bull trout ESA litigation update

INTERIM MEASURES ADOPTED BY PARTICIPANTS IN NEGOTIATIONS TO ESTABLISH SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION

March 6, SUBJECT: Briefing on Columbia River Basin salmon and steelhead returns for 2017 and run forecasts for 2018

SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY UNION - ANTI-DOPING REGULATIONS

May 7, Ryan Zinke, Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1840 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C

October 1, Jim Ruff, Manager, Mainstem Passage and River Operations

Progress Made by Tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)

YUROK TRIBE 2014 FALL HARVEST MANAGEMENT PLAN

Lake Seminole. and Waters Bordering Georgia and Alabama

Transcription:

AGREEMENT On October 9, 2018, the 60-day Notice Organizations (defined below) sent officials of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Idaho Fish and Game Commission a notice under Section 11(g) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) alleging that the Idaho officials had authorized a steelhead fishery without any exemption from the prohibition against incidental take of wild (non-adipose-fin-clipped) Snake River Basin steelhead, alleging that the fishery was taking wild fish in violation of the ESA, and alleging that 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 Snake River Basin wild steelhead returns were among the lowest in more than two decades. On October 14, 2018, the 60-day Notice Organizations recommended a series of interim measures they believed would minimize harm to wild fish pending compliance with the ESA. The State of Idaho submitted a Fishery Management and Evaluation Plan (FMEP) for its steelhead fishery to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 2010, which NMFS did not act on. Since 2010, Idaho conducted steelhead fisheries using the 2010 FMEP with NMFS s knowledge. Idaho revised the FMEP with updated information and, on November 6, 2018, NMFS published a notice that the FMEP is available for public comment (83 Federal Register 55,523). The public comment period on the FMEP under 50 C.F.R. 223.203(b)(4)(iv) ends on December 13, 2018, and NMFS is expected to issue a decision on the revised FMEP by March 2019. On November 14, 2018, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission suspended steelhead fishing, beginning on December 8, 2018, after IDFG and the 60-day Notice Organizations could not reach an interim compromise agreement. The shared intent of the parties to this Agreement is for the 60-day Notice Organizations to agree not to sue Idaho officials or individual anglers, subject to certain conditions, described below, that include additional closures by the Commission and voluntary restrictions adopted by Idaho River Community Alliance, Inc., with respect to steelhead fishing. This is intended to be an interim, compromise agreement of the parties. Therefore, the parties agree as follows: I. Covenant Not to Sue A. The 60-day Notice Organizations, and their legal counsel, agree not to sue Idaho officials or individual anglers during Winter 2018-2019 (as defined below) regarding alleged violations of the ESA for incidental take of wild Snake River Basin steelhead during recreational steelhead fisheries authorized by the Commission/IDFG in 2018 and 2019. II. Winter 2018-2019 Steelhead Season and Limits A. The above Covenant Not to Sue only becomes effective with Commission action such that: 1. The following two River sections areas are closed to steelhead fishing for Winter 2018-2019: 1

a. The Salmon River between its confluence with Warren Creek and the Copper Mine Boat Ramp (located approximately 2.5 miles upstream from the Salmon River s confluence with Middle Fork Salmon River); and b. The South Fork Clearwater River upstream from the Mount Idaho Grade Bridge. 2. The daily bag limit for Winter 2018-2019 is one (1) steelhead in the mainstem Clearwater River, Middle Fork Clearwater River, North Fork Clearwater River, South Fork Clearwater River, Salmon River, Little Salmon River, and Snake River. B. The above Covenant Not to Sue remains effective while the above Commission action remains in effect, and while the Voluntary Measures described below are being implemented. C. The Commission may otherwise reinstate the steelhead fishing seasons established for 2018 and 2019 without effect to the Covenant Not to Sue above. III. Winter 2018-2019 Voluntary Measures A. The Idaho River Community Alliance agrees to the following voluntary measures, measures not imposed by a rule or order, for its members steelhead fishing activities in Idaho (in areas other than the Boise River and Snake River upstream from Hells Canyon Dam) during Winter 2018-2019: 1. Use only single-pointed barbless hooks; 2. Keep any adipose-fin clipped steelhead (as evidenced by a healed scar) caught in a legal manner, with recognition that Commission rules require an angler to stop steelhead fishing, including catch-and-release fishing, once an angler has reached the daily bag limit for steelhead; and 3. Not remove from the water any steelhead with adipose fin intact, with recognition that Commission rules require any steelhead so caught to be released. B. The Idaho River Community Alliance s agreement to the preceding voluntary measures does not affect any angler s ability to use bait or boats as authorized by Commission rules. C. The Idaho River Community Alliance will broadly publicize the Winter 2018-2019 Voluntary Measures and within 30 days will sponsor a workshop to describe these measures for its members and other members of the public. The Idaho River Community Alliance will provide advance notice of this workshop to the other parties to this Agreement. IV. Non-binding/Non-precedential Effect Beyond Winter 2018-2019 A. This Agreement is a compromise regarding the conduct of steelhead fishing during Winter 2018-2019 only, during the pendency of NMFS s review pursuant to 50 CFR 223 of the 2

IDFG Recreational Steelhead Fisheries Management and Evaluation Plan (per 83 Fed. Reg. 55523, November 6, 2018). The terms of this Agreement do not constitute an admission of any party. No party will use this Agreement to prove or disprove any other party s position as to the scientific or policy merits of Agreement terms. The Agreement will have no binding effect or precedential value in any other current or future legal or administrative proceeding, including, but not limited those determining the terms, conditions, or overall merits of any NMFS approval pursuant to 50 CFR 223. V. Definitions A. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions will apply: 1. Commission will mean the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. 2. ESA means the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 3. IDFG will mean the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. 4. Idaho River Community Alliance, Inc. is a nonprofit Idaho corporation organized for the long-term purpose of representing the shared interests of anglers, outfitters and guides, businesses and Idaho communities dependent on maintaining robust and viable salmon and steelhead fisheries, and preserving both wild and hatchery salmon and steelhead species. 5. NMFS is the National Marine Fisheries Service. 6. 60-day Notice Organizations will mean all of the organizations who participated in a notice of intent to sue dated October 9, 2018, regarding Idaho-authorized fisheries taking Snake River Basin Steelhead, namely The Conservation Angler, Wild Salmon Rivers, Wild Fish Conservancy, Snake River Waterkeeper, and Friends of the Clearwater, but excluding Idaho Rivers United, which earlier withdrew from said Notice. 7. Winter 2018-2019 means the period from the date this Agreement becomes effective as described in Section II.A.1 2 above until the earlier of the following: (a) the end of the day on March 15, 2019, or (b) the effective date of NMFS s incidental take authorization for Idaho s Recreational Steelhead Fisheries upon written concurrence and approval of IDFG s Recreational Steelhead Fisheries FMEP. 3

A. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts by an authorized representative of each party, a scanned, signed copy of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Wherefore, after having reviewed the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the 60-Day Notice Organizations, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and Idaho River Community Alliance hereby agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Idaho Department of Fish and Game: Virgil Moore, Director Snake River Waterkeeper: for Pef er IN. So vtrll wdz., f(j(' ftierw.~vtre/ Printed Name: Wild Fish Conservancy: Printed Name: Friends of the Clearwater: Printed Name: Idaho River Community Alliance, Inc.: Printed Name: 4