Judge rejects Alaska tribal groups’ challenge to federal fish harvest rule
Tribes' plea for updated climate data in fishing regulations denied; current limits stand.
A federal judge has ruled that the National Marine Fisheries Service lawfully relied on older environmental impact statements when setting groundfish harvest limits for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, rejecting a challenge from two Alaskan tribal organizations.
The Association of Village Council Presidents and Tanana Chiefs Conference argued that NMFS failed to account for climate-driven ecosystem changes in its 2024-2025 harvest rule. They sought to force the agency to update its environmental review, citing declining salmon populations and shifts in marine productivity.
U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason denied their request, ruling that NMFS properly considered updated data and was not required to reassess the environmental impact unless new conditions significantly altered previous findings. The decision allows the current harvest specifications, which authorize fishing for billions of pounds of fish, to stand.
The case is Association of Village Council Presidents et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service et al., U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.
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