BOSTON — Federal and state officials are planning to announce a long-term conservation plan in Massachusetts for the piping plover that could relax some restrictions on the state's beaches, including Duxbury Beach.

The piping plover has seen its numbers in the state increase significantly since 1986 when it was listed under the Endangered Species Act. As a result of measures like leashing dogs and fences around nesting areas, the shorebird's numbers have gone from 140 pairs in 1986 to 689 in 2015.

In January, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife released a draft conservation plan that attempted to strike a balance between continued protection and greater flexibility for beach managers. The final plan will be announced Friday.