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On August 8, 2019, U.S. Judge Richard A. Jones issued summary judgement in a case brought by Wild Fish Conservancy against NOAA Fisheries (Case No. 20-cv-417-RAJ) approving and adopting Magistrate Judge Michelle L. Peterson’s Report and Recommendation.

Through the case WFC is challenging NOAA for authorizing commercial salmon harvest in Southeast Alaska’s Chinook troll fishery at levels that the federal agency admits are pushing federally protected Southern Resident orcas and wild Chinook closer to extinction. The Court’s order overwhelming agreed that NOAA violated the law by improperly relying on undeveloped and uncertain future mitigation to offset this ongoing harm to species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Click below to download Judge Jones’ order. The document also includes the Report and Recommendation that was approved and adopted by the order.

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