Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act requires NOAA Fisheries Service
to publish a recovery plan for each species it lists as threatened or endangered. Such plans must contain:

• Objective measurable criteria, which when met, would result in the determination that the species be removed from the ESA list
• A description of site specific management actions necessary for recovery
• Estimates of time and cost to carry out the recommended recovery measures.

The goal of an ESA recovery plan is conservation and survival of the listed species.

The Northwest Region has finalized some and is preparing other recovery plans for ESA-listed salmon and steelhead. We're receiving various products from regional and local planning groups that will go through the recovery planning process to become final plans. See our Salmon Recovery Planning section for information on the status of that work. Recovery plan links are posted on the left once they're final.

The region has prepared a recovery plan for the Southern Resident killer whales of Puget Sound, which were listed as endangered in November 2005. This effort built on conservation planning for these orcas that resulted from their depleted designation under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.