NOAA 98-138
CONTACT:  Gordon Helm                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
          Brian Gorman                  7/21/98
          
                                                                 

The Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service said today that the Justice Department, acting in its behalf, would appeal a federal court opinion last June that said the fishery agency had erred in relying on an Oregon to plan to protect Coho Salmon, thereby keeping them off the endangered species list.

The fisheries service had declined last year to list under the federal Endangered Species Act coho salmon along Oregon's central and northern coast. In addition to finding at that time that the species did not warrant listing, the agency said Oregon's comprehensive conservation plan provided additional protection for the species.

Oregon has already appealed the court's ruling. Both appeals are to the Ninth Circuit Appeals Court in San Francesco.

"Irrespective of the final outcome of this case," said Terry Garcia, Commerce assistant secretary for oceans and atmosphere, "we will continue to support the people and resources of Oregon and their hard to work implement the state plan to save coho salmon."

"Salmon are in trouble, and we remain steadfastly committed to our goal of recovery of these fish," Garcia said.