We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or FWS), notify the public that we are making changes to our January 15, 2025, proposed rule to revise the protective regulations for the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) in the lower-48 States under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act or ESA). We are reopening the comment period because we are proposing substantive changes to the protective regulations in the January 15, 2025, proposed rule. Comments previously submitted will be considered and do not need to be resubmitted now. However, we invite comments on the new information presented in this announcement relevant to the changes to the proposed protective regulations, as described below. We encourage those who have commented previously to submit additional comments, if appropriate, considering this new information relative to the protective regulations for the grizzly bear. At this time, we are not proposing any revisions to, nor asking for additional comments on, any other components of our January 15, 2025, proposed rule for the grizzly bear, including the proposed grizzly bear distinct population segment (DPS). In addition, we are providing notice that we are considering issuing separate final rules for our final determinations on the revision to the grizzly bear listing and the revision to the 4(d) rule.
Neil Hornby, Chief Executive of Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) will take up the role of Natural England Chief Executive in Autumn 2026.
The full recovery of vital ecosystems, habitats and species in a highly protected marine area (HPMA) in the Irish Sea, will be supported more effectively in future as a new Marine Management Organisation (MMO) byelaw comes i…
NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2026 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This adjustment to the 2026 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2026 commercial quotas for North Carolina and Virginia.
NMFS is transferring 6.4 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the Harpoon category resulting in an adjusted Harpoon category quota 65.6 mt and a Reserve category quota of 1 mt. This action is intended to provide further harvest opportunities for Harpoon category fishermen, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category (commercial) permitted vessels. The Harpoon category fishery will remain open until November 15, 2026, or until the adjusted Harpoon quota is reached, whichever comes first.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), revise the critical habitat designation for the contiguous U.S. distinct population segment (DPS) of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 14,030 square miles (36,340 square kilometers) in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Washington, fall within the boundaries of the revised critical habitat designation. This revision fulfills our obligations under a settlement agreement to address issues raised by the District Court of Montana regarding our 2014 final critical habitat designation.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS; collectively referred to as the "Services") rescind the regulatory definition of "harm" in our Endangered Species Act (ESA or the Act) regulations. This rescission removes the regulatory definition of "harm" from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in Title 50 parts 17 and 222.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS; collectively referred to as the "Services") rescind the regulatory definition of "harm" in our Endangered Species Act (ESA or the Act) regulations. This rescission removes the regulatory definition of "harm" from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in Title 50 parts 17 and 222.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on 10 petitions to add species to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions to list the Cascade red fox (Vulpes vulpes cascadensis), diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), Goose Lake lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus ssp.), Goose Lake sucker (Catostomus occidentalis lacusanserinus), Goose Lake tui chub (Siphateles thalassinus thalassinus), loopy five firefly (Photuris forresti), and plains spotted skunk (Spilogale interrupta) present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we are initiating status reviews of these seven species to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we request scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act. We further find that the petitions to list the Ellett Valley millipede (Pseudotremia cavernarum), long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), and Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) do not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, we are not initiating status reviews for these three species.
Today, Europe’s northern seas face growing pressure. The energy transition, climate change, biodiversity loss and increasing geopolitical tensions are reshaping how countries plan and manage their maritime space. Offshore wind, fisheries, shipping and nature protection all compete for space at sea,