Regulations against take apply to any party or person under United States jurisdiction and are intended to safeguard the salmon we have left and preserve any options for recovering them. Take of a protected species is prohibited without written authorization. Authorization can be granted for limited take that does not interfere with efforts to save the salmon. Some activities are, as a general rule, more likely to take protected salmon. NMFS ESA enforcement, therefore, will focus on these activities.
Federal agencies bear the greatest obligation for protecting threatened and endangered species.
These agencies must implement programs that do not reduce the species chances for survival and recovery. Under Section 7, Federal agencies must also consult with NMFS on any action they permit, fund, or manage that is likely to adversely affect a threatened or endangered species. In doing this, NMFS must issue a biological opinion that explains how the Federal action affects the species and lays out what actions the agency should take to protect the species. State and local actions must complement salmon recovery to obtain such authorization. This section of the ESA also encourages local problem-solving.