Greenpeace v. National Marine Fisheries Service

ORDER

ZILLY, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Greenpeace, American Oceans Campaign, and the Sierra Club (“plaintiffs”) brought suit under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) challenging the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS’s) North Pacific Fishery Management Plans for the groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Aaska. Plaintiffs contend these fisheries, as authorized by the Fishery Management Plans, *542jeopardize endangered Stellar sea lions and adversely modify sea lion critical habitat.1

The matter is currently before the Court on NMFS’s motion for reconsideration, docket no. 376.…