What are the penalties for violating ESA regulations?
The Endangered Species Act states that anyone found in violation of any of the prohibited acts can be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for each violation. A criminal conviction can lead to a penalty of not more than $50,000 and up to one year in jail. See Section 11 of the ESA for the complete wording. Under Section 11(g) of the Endangered Species Act, a civil action can also be initiated by a citizen group against any party (private or government) that has committed a “take” of a listed species.
