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.
Authorizations In Process
The following authorizations are currently in process.
THwaites Offshore Research (THOR) Project in the Amundsen Sea, Antartica
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 1/21/2020 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs on behalf of the University of Houston for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the THOR project in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NOAA Fisheries is also requesting comments on a possible one-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. We will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
Point Blue Conservation Science Seabird and Pinniped Research in Central California (2020-2025)
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Point Blue Conservation Science (Point Blue) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to seabird research activities in central California over the course of five years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of Point Blue’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals.
Renewal of Point Blue Conservation Science Seabird and Pinniped Research in Central California (2019)
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Point Blue Conservation Science for the Renewal of their initial incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals incidental to seabird and pinniped research activities in central California. These activities are identical to those covered in the current authorization, and Renewal requirements have been satisfied.
University of California Santa Cruz Rocky Intertidal Monitoring off California and Oregon (2020-2025)
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 2/14/2020 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from University of California Santa Cruz’s Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (UCSC/PISCO) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring surveys along the Oregon and California coasts. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is proposing regulations to govern that take, and requests comments on the proposed regulations. We 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.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Fishery Independent Monitoring Activities
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources has received a request from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to fisheries research in Texas bay systems over the course of five years from the date of issuance.
NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Fisheries Research Activities
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources has received a request from NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) for authorization to take 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 five years from the date of issuance.
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 has received a request from the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) 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, in multiple geographical regions in the Pacific Ocean.
Active Authorizations
The following authorizations are currently active.
Scripps Institute of Oceanography Low-Energy Geophysical Survey in the South Atlantic Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 11/3/2019 | 11/3/2019-11/2/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during a low-energy marine geophysical survey in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Scripps Institute of Oceanography Low-Energy Geophysical Survey in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 10/11/2019 | 9/12/2019 - 9/11/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO) to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B harassment, marine mammals during a low-energy marine geophysical survey in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean.
Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active LOA | Closed | 9/4/2019 | 10/7/2019- 10/6/2024 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources 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 five 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.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northeast Pacific Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 7/10/2019 | 7/10/2019 - 7/9/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B harassment, marine mammals during seismic activities associated with a marine geophysical survey in the Northeast Pacific Ocean.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex Research, Monitoring, and Maintenance Activities
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 7/8/2019 | 6/12/2019 - 6/11/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during biological research, monitoring, and maintenance activities at the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Marine Geophysical Survey in the Gulf of Alaska
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 6/1/2019 | 6/1/2019 - 5/31/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B harassment, marine mammals during seismic airgun activities associated with a marine geophysical survey in the Gulf of Alaska.
Renewal of University of California Santa Cruz Rocky Intertidal Monitoring off California and Oregon (2019)
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | 4/26/2019 | 4/12/2019 - 4/11/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) Renewal to the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Study of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) to harass marine mammals incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring surveys along the Oregon and California Coasts.
Renewal of Saint George Reef Light Station Restoration Activities in the Northeast Pacific Ocean (2019)
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 4/16/2019 | 4/10/2019 - 4/9/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) Renewal to the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society (Society) to harass marine mammals incidental to aircraft operations, lighthouse renovations, and tour operations associated with preservation of the St. George Reef Lighthouse Station (Station) on Northwest Seal Rock (NWSR) in the northeast Pacific Ocean.
Research and Monitoring Activities in Southern Alaska National Parks
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 3/7/2019 | 3/7/2019 - 2/29/2024 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the National Park Service (NPS), hereby issues regulations and associated Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to research and monitoring activities in southern Alaska over the course of five years (2019-2024).
NOAA Fisheries NWFSC Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 7/27/2018 | 8/27/2018- 8/28/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries, upon request of NOAA Fisheries' Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), hereby issues regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted in the Pacific Ocean over the course of five 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.
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Fireworks Displays in California
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active LOA | closed | 6/15/2017 | 7/04/2017-7/03/2022 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, has issued an LOA and regulations to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fireworks displays permitted within the Sanctuary in California waters, over the course of five years (2017-2022).
Alaska Aerospace Corporation Space Vehicle and Missile Launch Operations at Kodiak Island, Alaska
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active LOA | closed | 3/24/2017 | 4/24/2017-4/25/2022 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, has issued an LOA and regulations under the MMPA to govern the unintentional take of marine mammals incidental to space vehicle and missile launch operations on Kodiak Island, Alaska, over the course of five years (2017-2022).
NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Atlantic Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active LOA | closed | 9/13/2016 | 9/12/2016-9/09/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), has issued an LOA and regulations under the MMPA to govern the unintentional take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted by over the course of 5 years from the date of issuance, in the Atlantic Ocean.
NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific Ocean
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active LOA | closed | 10/30/2015 | 10/30/2015-10/30/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), has issued an LOA and regulations under the MMPA to govern the unintentional take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research over the course of five years, in the California Current Research Area (off the U.S. west coast), the Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Area, and the Antarctic Research Area (in the Antarctic Scotia Sea).
Withdrawn and Inactive
For documents related to withdrawn applications for Authorization and inactive Authorizations, please contact us.
| Applicant | Activity | Authorization Type | Effective Dates |
| SpaceX | Falcon 9 Rocket Recovery Activities in California (2018) | IHA | -- |
| U.S. Fish & 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 |
| 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 | 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 & 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
