Wednesday January 29, 2025
Northwest Sportsman —
Washington’s state fish, which supports recreational and tribal fisheries in the Hoh, Queets, Quinault, Quillayute and elsewhere on the West End, were found to be at “moderate risk of extinction” here last fall following an August 2022 petition filed by The Conservation Angler of Edmonds and Wild Fish Conservancy of Duvall.
But the two groups say that the feds are now over 530 days late in proposing a presumed listing, and so they sued the agency in mid-January “to cause NMFS to issue this overdue determination.”
They’re asking a federal judge to declare that NMFS has violated ESA by not issuing a “timely” 12-month finding, order the agency to do so “by a reasonable date certain,” grant any injunctive relief motions they may have, and award attorney’s fees.
NMFS had no comment on the lawsuit filed in US District Court for Western Washington.