The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Dec. 9 released its 12-month finding that found the Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal Chinook salmon evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) did not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act.
“Based on our review of the best available scientific and commercial information and the findings of the status review report, we determined that the (Oregon Coast) and (Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal) Chinook salmon ESUs are not currently in danger of extinction, nor are they likely to become so within the foreseeable future,” NOAA said.
The ESUs have high overall abundance, the agency said, and are able to maintain abundance even with relatively high exploitation rates.
