Incidental Take Authorizations for Research and Other Activities
This page lists Incidental Take Authorizations for research and other activities. Applications are typically posted to this page when public review is initiated.
An Interactive Map can be viewed that shows recent and in process authorizations. *Please note that to use the Interactive Map, you will be required to log in.
Authorizations In Process
The following authorizations are currently in process.
University of California Santa Cruz's Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Along the Coasts of Oregon and California
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 1/4/2025 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the University of California Santa Cruz for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring along the coasts of Oregon and California over the course of 5 years from the date of issuance. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of the University of California Santa Cruz’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the University of California Santa Cruz’s application and request.
University of Texas at Austin's Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 12/19/2024 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the University of Texas at Austin for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to a marine geophysical survey in coastal waters off Texas in the northwest Gulf of Mexico. NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NOAA Fisheries is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in the Request for Public Comments section at the end of this notice. NOAA Fisheries will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Marine Geophysical Survey in the Nauru Basin of Greater Micronesia in the NW Pacific Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 11/7/2024 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Scripps Institution of Oceanography for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to a marine geophysical survey in the Nauru Basin of greater Micronesia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NOAA Fisheries is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NOAA Fisheries will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Fisheries and Ecosystem Research (2024-2029)
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to conducting fisheries and ecosystem research in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans over the course of 5 years from the date of issuance. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals.
NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific Ocean (2023-2028)
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources has received a request from the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to conducting fisheries research, over the course of 5 years from the date of issuance. NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources is announcing receipt of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries and Ecosystem Monitoring and Research Activities within the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary, CA
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), on behalf of the Interagency Ecological Program, for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to conducting fisheries and ecosystem monitoring and research activities within the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary, CA, over the course of five years. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of CDFW’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals.
NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources has received a request from NOAA Fisheries' Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center for a Letter of Authorization to take marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted in multiple specified geographical regions, over the course of five years from the date of issuance. NOAA Fisheries is proposing regulations to govern that take.
Active Authorizations
The following authorizations are currently active.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Marine Geophysical Survey of the Chain Transform Fault in the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 9/27/2024 | 9/27/2024 - 9/26/2025 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University (L-DEO) to incidentally harass marine mammals during survey activities associated with a marine geophysical survey at the Chain Transform Fault in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory's Marine Geophysical Survey of the Reykjanes Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 6/27/2024 | 6/27/2024 - 6/26/2025 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University to incidentally harass marine mammals during survey activities associated with a marine geophysical survey at the Reykjanes Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Renewal of National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs Geophysical Survey in the Ross Sea, Antarctica
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 11/15/2023 | 12/15/2023 - 12/14/2024 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued a renewal incidental harassment authorization to the United States National Science Foundation to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to a geophysical survey in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.
NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center Fisheries and Ecosystem Research, Atlantic Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 10/21/2021 | 10/21/2021 - 10/20/2026 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, upon request from NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center, hereby issues regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted in multiple specified geographical regions over the course of 5 years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. Upon publication of this final rule, NMFS will issued a LOA to NEFSC for the effective period of the final rule.
Point Blue Conservation Science Seabird and Pinniped Research in Central California (2021-2026)
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/25/2021 | 7/1/2021 - 6/30/2026 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, upon request from Point Blue Conservation Science, issued regulations and a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to seabird research activities in central California over the course of five years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of LOAs for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the California Current and Antarctic Research Areas
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 1/15/2021 | 1/15/2021 - 1/15/2026 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources has issued regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted in multiple specified geographical regions over the course of five years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Research Activities
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/6/2020 | 6/5/2020 - 6/5/2025 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources, upon request from NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), issued regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted in the Atlantic Ocean along the southeastern U.S. coast and select estuaries, the Gulf of Mexico and select estuaries, and the Caribbean Sea over the course of 5 years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
University of California Santa Cruz Rocky Intertidal Monitoring off California and Oregon (2020-2025)
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 4/2/2020 | 4/12/2020 - 4/11/2025 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the University of California Santa Cruz’s Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (UCSC/PISCO), has issued regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring surveys along the Oregon and California coasts over the course of five years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
Withdrawn and Inactive
For documents related to withdrawn applications for Authorization and inactive Authorizations, please contact us.
| Applicant | Activity | Authorization Type | Effective Dates |
| Texas Parks and Wildlife Department | Fishery Independent Monitoring Activities | LOA | -- |
| SpaceX | Falcon 9 Rocket Recovery Activities in California (2018) | IHA | -- |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Gulf Sturgeon Research in the Gulf of Mexico | IHA | -- |
Expired Authorizations
For documents related to expired authorizations, please contact us.
| Applicant | Activity | Authorization Type | Effective Dates |
| NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center | Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans | LOA | 10/7/2019 - 10/6/2024 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Marine Geophysical Survey in the Puerto Rico Trench and slope of Puerto Rico | IHA | 10/6/2023 - 10/5/2024 |
| University of Texas | Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico | IHA | 9/29/2023 - 9/28/2024 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Marine Geophysical Surveys of the Blake Plateau in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean | IHA | 7/10/2023 - 7/9/2024 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Geophysical Surveys off North Carolina in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean | IHA | 5/5/2023 - 5/4/2024 |
| National Park Service | Research and Monitoring Activities in Southern Alaska National Parks | LOA | 3/7/2019 - 2/29/2024 |
| National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs | Geophysical Survey in the Ross Sea, Antarctica | IHA | 12/15/2022 - 12/14/2023 |
| NOAA Fisheries NWFSC | Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific Ocean | LOA | 8/27/2018- 8/28/2023 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Geophysical Surveys at the Cascadia Subduction Zone and Juan de Fuca Plate in the Northeast Pacific Ocean | IHA | 8/1/2022 - 7/31/2023 |
| Scripps Institution of Oceanography | Marine Geophysical Surveys in the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico | IHA | 6/29/2022 - 6/28/2023 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Marine Geophysical Surveys of the Guerrero Gap off the Coast of Mexico in the Eastern Tropical Pacific | IHA | 5/2/2022 - 5/1/2023 |
| University of Alaska | Geophysics Institute Geophysical Surveys in the Arctic Ocean | IHA | 8/11/2021 - 8/10/2022 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Geophysical Survey of the Queen Charlotte Fault | IHA | 7/9/2021 - 7/8/2022 |
| Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary | Fireworks Displays in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, California | LOA | 7/04/2017-7/03/2022 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northeast Pacific Ocean (2021) | IHA | 5/19/2021 - 5/18/2022 |
| Alaska Aerospace Corporation | Space Vehicle and Missile Launch Operations at Kodiak Island, Alaska | LOA | 4/24/2017-4/25/2022 |
| Pt. Blue Conservation Society | Seabird and Pinniped Research, Central CA | IHA | 10/1/2020 - 9/30/2021 |
| NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center | Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Atlantic Ocean | LOA | 9/12/2016 - 9/9/2021 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Marine Geophysical Survey in the Aleutian Islands | IHA | 9/1/2020 - 8/31/2021 |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Renewal of Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex Monitoring and Research | IHA | 8/14/2020 - 6/11/2021 |
| National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs | THwaites Offshore Research (THOR) Project in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica | IHA | 01/24/2020- 1/23/2021 |
| Scripps Institute of Oceanography | Low-Energy Geophysical Survey in the South Atlantic Ocean | IHA | 11/3/2019-11/2/2020 |
| NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center | Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific Ocean | LOA | 10/30/2015- 10/30/2020 |
| Scripps Institute of Oceanography | Low-Energy Geophysical Survey in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean | IHA | 9/12/2019 - 9/11/2020 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northeast Pacific Ocean | IHA | 7/10/2019 - 7/9/2020 |
| Point Blue Conservation Science | Renewal of Seabird and Pinniped Research in Central California (2019) | IHA | 2/14/2020 - 7/6/2020 |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex Monitoring and Research | IHA | 6/12/2019 - 6/11/2020 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Marine Geophysical Survey in the Gulf of Alaska | IHA | 6/1/2019 - 5/31/2020 |
| University of California Santa Cruz | Rocky Intertidal Monitoring off California and Oregon (2019) | IHA | 4/12/2019 - 4/11/2020 |
| St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society | Renewal of Saint George Reef Light Station Restoration Activities in the Northeast Pacific Ocean (2019) | IHA | 4/10/2019 - 4/9/2020 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Marine Geophysical Survey in the North Pacific Ocean | IHA | 9/1/2018- 8/31/2019 |
| United States Geological Survey | Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean | IHA | 8/6/2018 - 8/5/2019 |
| Point Blue Conservation Science | Seabird and Pinniped Research in Central California (2018) | IHA | 7/7/2018 - 7/6/2019 |
| Scripps Institution of Oceanography | Low-energy Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean | IHA | 6/11/2018 - 6/10/2019 |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex Monitoring and Research | IHA | 4/1/2018 - 3/31/2019 |
| University of California Santa Cruz | Rocky Intertidal Monitoring off California and Oregon (2018) | IHA | 3/12/2018 - 3/11/2019 |
| Glacier Bay National Park | Seabird Research and Climate Monitoring, Alaska | IHA | 3/1/2018- 2/28/2019 |
| St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society | Light Station Restoration Activities in California | IHA | 2/19/2018- 2/18/2019 |
| SpaceX | Falcon 9 Rocket Recovery Activities in California | IHA | 12/01/2017-11/30/2018 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Marine Geophysical Surveys in the Southwest Pacific Ocean | IHA | 10/27/2017- 10/26/2018 |
| Scripps Institution of Oceanography | Low-Energy Geophysical Survey in the Northeast Pacific Ocean | IHA | 9/22/2017-9/19/2018 |
| University of Hawaii | Marine Geophysical Survey in the Central Pacific Ocean | IHA | 9/14/2017-9/13/2018 |
| Point Blue Conservation Science | Seabird and Pinniped Research in Central California | IHA | 7/7/2017- 7/6/2018 |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex Seabird and Shorebird Monitoring and Research | IHA | 4/01/2017-3/31/2018 |
| University of California Santa Cruz | Rocky Intertidal Monitoring off California and Oregon | IHA | 2/21/2017- 2/20/2018 |
| St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society | Light Station Restoration Activities in California | IHA | 2/19/2017- 2/18/2018 |
| Quintillion Subsea Operations, LLC | Subsea Cable Laying Operations in U.S. Arctic | IHA | 7/01/2017-11/15/2017 |
| Glacier Bay National Park | Seabird Research in Alaska | IHA | 5/1/2017-9/30/2017 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Seismic Survey in Southeast Pacific Ocean | IHA | 8/01/2016-7/31/2017 |
| SpaceX | Falcon 9 Rocket Recovery in California | IHA | 6/30/2016-6/29/2017 |
| Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary | Fireworks Displays in California | LOA | 06/28/2012- 06/28/2017 |
| City of San Diego | Sand Quality Study in La Jolla, California | IHA | 6/1/2016-5/30/2017 |
| Point Blue Conservation Science | Seabird Research in Central California | IHA | 5/16/2016-5/15/2017 |
| UC Santa Cruz Partnership for Interdisciplinary Study of Coastal Oceans | Rocky Intertidal Monitoring off California and Oregon | IHA | 2/03/2016 - 2/02/2017 |
| St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society | St. George Reef Light Station Restoration Activities | IHA | 2/19/2016 - 2/18/2017 |
| Fairweather, LLC | Anchor Retrieval in Chukchi and Beaufort Seas | IHA | 7/01/2016-10/31/2016 |
| Quintillion Subsea Operations, Inc | Subsea Cable Laying in U.S. Arctic | IHA | 6/01/2016-10/31/2016 |
| Glacier Bay National Park | Seabird Research in Alaska | IHA | 5/16/2016-9/30/2016 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Seismic Survey in the South Atlantic Ocean | IHA | 1/4/2016 - 3/31/2016 |
| Alaska Aerospace Corporation | Space Vehicle and Missile Launch Operations in Alaska | LOA | 03/22/2011- 03/22/2016 |
| Point Blue Conservation Science | Seabird Research in Central California | IHA | 1/31/2015- 1/30/2016 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Seismic Survey in the Mediterranean Sea | IHA | 11/19/2015- 12/31/2015 |
| Glacier Bay National Park | Seabird Research in Alaska | IHA | 05/15/2015- 09/31/2015 |
| Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | Seismic Survey in the NW Atlantic Ocean Offshore New Jersey | IHA | 06/01/2015- 08/31/2015 |
| USGS | Seismic Survey in Atlantic Ocean off Eastern Seaboard | IHA | 08/21/2014- 08/20/2015 |
| BLM | Land Survey Activities in the Eastern Aleutian Islands, AK | IHA | 06/09/2015- 07/31/2015 |
| Scripps Institution of Oceanography | Seismic Survey in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, East of New Zealand | IHA | 05/18/2015- 07/30/2015 |
More Information
- Incidental Take Authorization under the MMPA
- Apply for an Incidental Take Authorization
- Explore Incidental Take Authorizations for construction activities
- Explore Incidental Take Authorizations for military readiness activities
- Explore Incidental Take Authorizations for oil and gas activities
- Explore Incidental Take Authorizations for other energy (renewable and LNG) activities