At Stoel Rives, our attorneys represent individual commercial operators and processors, plus related industry trade associations that are navigating the federal regulatory frameworks governing fisheries management, environmental protection and operations on the high seas. Industry trade associations praise Stoel Rives’ success in their challenges to regulatory agency actions and federal permitting decisions. Our experience includes compliance and litigation arising under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and federal and state pollution control statutes. Our attorneys understand the relevant laws and the regulatory agency process, and we are effective advocates in the venues where commercial and environmental protection interests converge.
Our success in the fisheries industry can be attributed to our constructive working relationships with regulators and public officials to identify the common ground needed to achieve our clients’ goals. Stoel Rives’ reputation for excellence in environmental and natural resources law derives, in part, from our successful results in significant, high-profile cases involving the interests of the U.S. commercial fisheries industry. Our experiences are rooted in Hawaii, Alaska and the Pacific Coast. Our capabilities and subject matter leadership are nationally recognized.
As business counsel to the U.S. commercial fisheries industry, Stoel Rives’ corporate, litigation and antitrust advisors develop strategies and achieve results for our clients with the benefit of experience acquired through our targeted industry focus. Stoel Rives attorneys produce excellent legal work for our clients enhanced by fundamental fisheries industry knowledge.
Our Services
- Advocacy and litigation in response to ESA listing petitions, critical habitat designations and Section 7 consultations
- Compliance with MMPA take reduction plans, catch share (IFQ) programs and negligible impact determinations
- MSA permitting and regulatory compliance
- Corporate, environmental and litigation counsel to seafood processing companies
- Antitrust compliance, investigation response and enforcement defense