NMFS Recovery Planning Handbook, Version 1.0
October 13, 2020
This handbook provides NMFS staff with a comprehensive guide for developing recovery plans for species listed as threatened and endangered under the Endangered Species Act, as well as information for implementing recovery plans.
The purpose of this document is to guide NMFS staff in recovery planning and implementation activities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). For NMFS, this Recovery Planning Handbook supersedes both the 1992 NMFS Recovery Planning Guidelines and the NMFS Interim Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Planning Guidelines, versions 1.0 – 1.4. In addition, this handbook reflects NMFS’ withdrawal from the 1994 joint Interagency Cooperative Policy on Recovery Plan Participation and Implementation Under the Endangered Species Act (59 FR 34272) made on April 30, 2019 (84 FR 18243).