On March 5, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) had decided that the greater sage-grouse was warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but that the listing is precluded at this time due to higher priority listing actions, according to the Wildlife Management Institute. The decision establishes sage-grouse as a candidate species and allows states to continue to manage the species, including managed hunting where appropriate.

The 22-member Wind Turbine Guidelines Federal Advisory Committee announced on March 5 that it had reached consensus on a set of recommendations (Guidelines) for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to utilize to avoid or minimize the impacts of land-based wind development on wildlife and habitat, reports the Wildlife Management Institute.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Tom Vilsack, recently announced that USDA will offer an opportunity for general enrollment of lands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) later this year.

A controversy has erupted in the sport fishing community over a new federal management plan for oceans and Great Lakes waters. Recent opinion pieces circulating on the internet and reported on numerous radio stations have stoked the flames through revelations that the policy, if implemented, would prohibit recreational fishing within vast areas of public water.

Within the next 30 – 60 days, the Obama Administration is planning to issue a final report, and possibly other management guidance, intended to govern the management of the nation’s oceans, coastal areas and Great Lakes. The plan originated in June 2009, when President Obama created the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force.

Today, a coalition of marine recreational fishing, boating, and conservation organizations and businesses called on the Obama administration to take immediate action to address a crisis within the federal fisheries management system.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) joins other national conservation groups in expressing its deepest sympathy over the passing of Sam D. Hamilton, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).  Hamilton died on February 20 after having chest pains while skiing in Colorado.

The next chairman of a key house committee with oversight over federal funding for wildlife conservation has a long history of opposing hunting, trapping, and gun ownership.  

The President's FY 2011 budget request of $1.6 billion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will focus funding on the agency's highest priority conservation initiatives, while containing costs through management efficiencies and other savings to address government fiscal realities.

Former Women's Bassmaster Tour pros Dianna Clark and Judy Wong quickly switched to the Bassmaster Central Open circuit when the WBT was discontinued this month.