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NOAA Fisheries
Office of Protected Resources
 Acropora palmata thicket on Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Andy Bruckner, 1996Coho salmon painting, Canadian Dept of Fisheries and OceansMonk seal, C.E. BowlbyHumpback whale, Dr. Lou Herman
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Permits
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Endangered Species Permits and Conservation Plans

  leatherback turtle at water's surface
Leatherback turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea)
Photo: Scott R. Benson, NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Overview
Individuals planning to conduct any activity resulting in the "take" of an endangered or threatened species, whether or not deliberate, must possess a permit to perform that activity.

Permit Types
There are two types of permits issued for take under the Endangered Species Act (ESA):

  1. Permits for scientific research or to enhance the propagation and survival of the species (ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A)), and
  2. Permits for taking species incidental to (not the purpose of) an otherwise lawful activity (ESA Section 10(a)(1)(B)). The latter must be accompanied by a Conservation Plan (CP), often referred to as a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).

How to Apply
The instructions below are for permits for activities involving threatened or endangered marine and anadromous species.

Please note that the research and enhancement permit application instructions for threatened and endangered species (excluding Pacific salmonids) also apply to research and enhancement activities on marine mammals.

For terrestrial or freshwater species, or land-based sea turtle activities, please contact the appropriate regional office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Please note that the Scientific Research and/or Enhancement Permit application instructions were revised in October 2006. Please make sure you are using the most recent version, as linked to below, to prepare your application.

More Info
FAQs about ESA Permits and Conservation Plans
List of Species Protected Under the ESA
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