NOAA Fisheries helps federal agencies comply with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act whose purpose is to conserve ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend. NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources issues biological opinions to document our opinions on how federal agencies’ actions affect ESA-listed species and designated critical habitat.
How to Locate a Consultation
Biological opinions issued within the last five years are linked below by action agency. Opinions for pesticide consultations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are listed separately, on our Pesticide Consultations page.
The Environmental Consultation System (ECO) is available to search ESA Section 7 consultations from 2017 to present.
Biological opinions issued since 2010 may also be found in the NOAA library repository.
If you are looking for a biological opinion from an ESA Section 7 consultation completed before 2019 that is not available in ECO, you may send an email with specific details on your request to NMFS.Historic.Consultations@noaa.gov.
Biological opinions are issued by our regional offices as well.
Coast Guard
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Environmental Protection Agency
*Note that opinions specific to pesticide consultations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are listed separately and can be found on the our Pesticide Consultations page.
Department of Defense
Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)
NOAA Fisheries - Scientific Research Permits
| Project Title |
ECO/PCTS Reference Number |
DOI Number / NOAA Repository Link |
Signature Date |
| Biological Opinion on the Issuance of Incidental Take Permit No. 23148 to Exelon Generating Company, LLC, for Operation of Eddystone Generating Station |
OPR-2019-03367 |
https://doi.org/10.25923/kh0z-qg97 |
06/19/2020 |
| Biological and Conference Opinion on the Proposed Implementation of a Program for the Issuance of Permits for Research and Enhancement Activities on Cetaceans in the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans |
OPR-2018-00019 |
https://doi.org/10.25923/xe8c-kg31 |
08-22-2019 |
| Biological Opinion on Long Term Operation of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project |
WCRO-2016-00069 |
https://doi.org/10.25923/f6tw-rkl |
10/21/2019 |
| Biological and Conference Opinion on the Issuance of Scientific Research Permit Nos. 20648 to Dr. Heidi Pearson for Research on Marine Mammals in the Gulf of Alaska and Southeast Alaska, 21482 to Dr. Dan Engelhaupt, HDR, Inc. for Research on Marine Mammals in the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans, and 21938 to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center for Research on Marine Mammals in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea |
OPR-2018-00023 (FPR-2019-9292) |
https://doi.org/10.25923/33z5-pm15 |
05/17/2019 |
| Biological Opinion on the Issuance of Scientific Research Permit No. 21485 to Jooke Robbins (Center for Coastal Studies) for Research on Marine Mammals in the Western North Atlantic Ocean |
FPR-2018-9279 |
http://doi.org/10.25923/y50z-n425 |
12/19/2018 |
| Biological and Conference Opinion on the Issuance of Scientific Research Permit No. 21585 to Oregon State University (Dr. Bruce Mate) for Research on Marine Mammals in the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans |
FPR-2018-9277 |
http://doi.org/10.25923/b9bh-4z81 |
12/06/2018 |
| Biological and Conference Opinion on the Proposed Implementation of a Program for the Issuance of Permits for Research and Enhancement Activities on Threatened and Endangered Sea Turtles Pursuant to Section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act |
FPR-2017-9230 |
https://doi.org/10.7289/V57S7M1R |
12/21/2017 |
| Biological Opinion on the Issuance of Permit No. 17304-03 for Scientific Research on Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Mexico |
FPR-2017-9208 |
https://doi.org/10.7289/V5W09441 |
09/05/2017 |
| Biological and Conference Opinion on the Issuance of Permit No. 18786-01 to the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program Pursuant to Sections 109(h), 112(c), 104(c) and Title IV of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Section 10(a)(l)(A) of the Endangered Species Act, and Implementation of the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program |
FPR-2016-9166 |
https://doi.org/10.7289/V5WQ01V1 |
07/28/2016 |
Humpback whales swimming underwater. Credit: Kogia.org
An endangered leatherback sea turtle swimming at the ocean surface. Once prevalent in almost every ocean, the leatherback population is rapidly declining in many parts of the world. As one of NOAA Fisheries’ Species in the Spotlight, we have made it a priority to focus recovery efforts on stabilizing and recovering the leatherback sea turtle to prevent its extinction. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries
Gray whale breaching. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Merrill Gosho.
Right whale #3853 swimming north offshore of South Carolina on Jan. 20, 2011 with a series of fresh propeller wounds running across its back. The whale was observed 5 days previously offshore of Georgia without propeller wounds. It is unknown whether the whale survived its wounds or not, as it has not been re-sighted since. Vessel collisions are a leading cause of right whale mortality. Credit: EcoHealth Alliance (NOAA permit #594-1759).