Safe Harbor Agreements

Safe Harbor Agreements involve a private landowner or non-Federal agency agreeing to some voluntary action(s) that benefits a listed species in exchange for a guarantee that no additional regulatory restrictions related to the action(s) will be imposed by the Federal agency [Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations-Fisheries (NOAA-Fisheries)]. A net conservation benefit for the species must be met. At the end of the agreement period, the landowner is authorized to return to the original agreed to baseline condition and to take covered species if incidental to the action.