An HCP and an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) are closely related. An HCP outlines the conservation measures and strategies that a permittee (the party seeking the permit) will implement to minimize and mitigate the impacts of their activities on protected species and their habitats. The ITP is the actual permit issued by the regulatory agency (e.g., USFWS or NMFS) that authorizes the incidental take of these species, provided the permittee adheres to the HCP’s terms and conditions. In essence, the ITP is the legal instrument that allows the covered activities to proceed while ensuring compliance with the HCP.