NOAA Spares Washington Chinook Salmon from Endangered List for Now
Published Date: 2/19/2026
Notice
Summary
After a full review, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service decided that the Washington Coast Chinook salmon doesn’t need to be listed as threatened or endangered right now. This means no new protections or habitat rules will be added, keeping things steady for fishermen and local communities. The decision was announced on February 19, 2026, following careful science and ongoing conservation efforts.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Listing Denied for WC Chinook
NMFS determined the Washington Coast (WC) Chinook salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) does not warrant listing as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This 12-month finding was made available on February 19, 2026 and is based on the best scientific and commercial information and consideration of ongoing conservation efforts.
No New Habitat Protections
Because NMFS found the WC Chinook salmon ESU does not warrant listing, no concurrent new ESA protections or critical habitat designations will be added as a result of this petition. That keeps existing fisheries and habitat management in place as of the finding date, February 19, 2026.
Spring-Run Not Treated Separately
NMFS concluded spring-run Chinook in the WC ESU are not substantially reproductively isolated and do not represent a distinct component of evolutionary legacy, so the WC ESU will not be partitioned by run timing. That means spring-run fish are not being considered as a separate ESU for listing under the petition.
Hatchery Stocks Considered Part of ESU
NMFS determined the 13 WC Chinook hatchery stocks exhibit genetic divergence no greater than what occurs within the ESU and meet criteria to be considered part of the WC Chinook salmon ESU. Hatchery production across the ESU is projected at 14.2 million juvenile releases annually; the Sol Duc Hatchery release target is 1.5 million juveniles (recent releases totaled about 1.14 million).
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