Description: Challenge to the National Marine Fisheries Service's adoption of annual catch limits for groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.
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Association of Village Council Presidents v. National Marine Fisheries Service
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary 04/07/2023 Complaint Download Complaint filed. Alaska Tribal Consortia Said Environmental Review of Groundfish Catch Limits Failed to Consider Climate Change Effects. Two consortia with members that are federally recognized tribes filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Alaska asserting that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) violated the National Environmental Policy Act when it adopted annual catch limits for groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The consortia alleged that NMFS improperly based its environmental review on a 2007 environmental impact statement and 2023 supplemental information report that did not analyze the annual groundfish harvest specifications decision in light of climate-induced changes. The consortia contended that the determination that no supplemental environmental impact statement was required was arbitrary, capricious, and not in accordance with law.