Incidental Take Authorization: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Independent Fisheries Research Surveys in Coastal Waters Across Texas

NOAA Fisheries, upon request from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has issued a final rule to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research in the coastal bays of Texas, over the course of 5 years (2026-2031) and an associated letter of authorization (LOA). Together, the final rule and LOA allow for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described specified activities and timeframes, prescribes the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species and their habitat, and establishes requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.