NOAA Fisheries Releases an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to potentially revise Implementing Regulations for the Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Provisions

NOAA Fisheries has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) seeking public comment through September 28, 2026, on potential revisions to the Marine Mammal Protection Act Import Provisions regulations. Based on a decade of implementation experience—including the January 1, 2026, import restrictions affecting approximately 240 fisheries in 46 countries—the agency is exploring ways to streamline the program, reduce administrative complexity, and improve implementation while continuing to promote measures that reduce marine mammal bycatch.