All Protected Resources Regulations & Actions
Proposed Negligible Impact Determinations and MMPA Section 101(a)(5)(E) Authorization for Commercial Fisheries
NOAA Fisheries is proposing to issue permits to authorize the incidental, but not intentional, take of specific Endangered Species Act listed marine mammal species or stocks under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
- Proposed MMPA 101(a)(5)(E) Evaluation - AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands flatfis…
- Proposed MMPA 101(a)(5)(E) Evaluation - AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands pollock…
- Proposed MMPA 101(a)(5)(E) Evaluation - AK Gulf of Alaska Sablefish Longline Fi…
- Proposed MMPA 101(a)(5)(E) Evaluation - HI Deep-set Longline Fishery
- Proposed MMPA 101(a)(5)(E) Evaluation - Atlantic Large Pelagics Longline Fishery
Issued
10/05/2020
MMPA List of Fisheries for 2021 Proposed Rule
NOAA Fisheries publishes its proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2021, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The LOF for 2021 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries…
Published
09/21/2020
Nominations to the Marine Mammal Scientific Review Groups
As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Secretary of Commerce established three independent regional scientific review groups (SRGs) to provide advice on a range of marine mammal science and management issues. NOAA Fisheries conducted a…
Published
09/03/2020
Permit Application to Import 5 Beluga Whales for Scientific Research (File No. 22629, Mystic Aquarium)
NOAA Fisheries has issued Permit No. 22629 to Mystic Aquarium (Responsible Party: Stephen M. Coan, Ph.D.) to import five beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) for scientific research. The issued permit and relevant documents are provided below under…
- Permit No. 22629 with Appendices (PDF, 29 pages)
- Recommendation Memorandum (PDF, 48 pages)
- Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (PDF, 64 pages)
- Mystic Responses – Acoustic Study (PDF, 18 pages)
- Mystic Responses –Objectives, Justification, and Methods (PDF, 22 pages)
- Mystic Responses – Take Numbers and Additional Questions (PDF, 8 pages)
- Mystic Responses – Issuance Criteria (PDF, 45 pages)
- Mystic Responses – Final Questions (PDF, 2 pages)
- Mystic Acoustic Technical Guidance User Spreadsheet (PDF, 9 pages)
- 22629 Revised Final Application (PDF, 80 pages)
- Appendix 1 Addendum: Memorandum of Understanding between Georgia and Mystic, Up…
- Appendix 8 Addendum: Mystic IACUC Minutes (PDF, 7 pages)
- Appendix 11 Addendum: USDA Research Registration, Updated (PDF, 1 page)
- 22629 Public Hearing Transcript (PDF, 141 pages)
- 22629 Application (PDF, 78 pages)
- 22629 Application Signature Page (PDF, 1 page)
- 22629 Application Take Tables (PDF, 5 pages)
- Appendix 1: Memorandum of Understanding between Georgia and Mystic (PDF, 3 page…
- Appendix 2: Mystic Beluga Workshop Program (PDF, 95 pages)
- Appendix 3: Mystic Publications (PDF, 21 pages)
- Appendix 4: Beluga Genetic Test Report (PDF, 2 pages)
- Appendix 5: Mystic IACUC Approved Protocols (PDF, 119 pages)
- Appendix 6: References (PDF, 9 pages)
- Appendix 7: Mystic Scientists in Residence 2019 (PDF, 4 pages)
- Appendix 8: Mystic IACUC Overview (PDF, 2 pages)
- Appendix 9: Mystic Grants & Funding History (PDF, 3 pages)
- Appendix 10: Mystic Aquarium Resources (PDF, 2 pages)
- Appendix 11: USDA Licenses & Inspections (PDF, 7 pages)
- Appendix 12: Mystic Veterinarian Statement (PDF, 1 page)
- Appendix 13: Georgia Aquarium Facility Description (PDF, 3 pages)
- Appendix 14: Transport Map and Georgia Aquarium Facility Map (PDF, 2 pages)
- Appendix 15: Georgia Aquarium Transport Plan (PDF, 3 pages)
- Appendix 16: Marineland of Canada Assurance (PDF, 2 pages)
Issued
08/27/2020
Incidental Take Authorization: Rio Grande LNG, LLC (Rio Grande) LNG Terminal Construction in the Brownsville Ship Channel in Cameron County, Texas
NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Rio Grande LNG LLC, authorizing the take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Brownsville Ship…
Effective
07/01/2020
Incidental Take Authorization: South Quay Wall Recapitalization Project, Naval Station Mayport, Florida
NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the United States Navy (Navy) for the reissuance of a previously issued incidental harassment authorization (IHA) with the change being a minor modification to the effective dates. The initial IHA authorizes…
Effective
07/01/2020
Criteria for Determining Negligible Impact under MMPA Section 101(a)(5)(E)
NOAA Fisheries finalized the Procedural Directive: Criteria for Determining Negligible Impact under MMPA Section 101(a)(5)(E).
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) and our implementing regulations (50 CFR 229.20) allow NOAA Fisheries to authorize the incidental…
Published
06/22/2020
Incidental Take Authorization: NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Research Activities
NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources (OPR), 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…
- Issued LOA (pdf, 18 pages)
- LOA Application (pdf, 223 pages)
- Draft Programmatic EA (pdf, 431 pages)
- Draft Programmatic EA Appendices (pdf, 138 pages)
- References (pdf, 12 pages)
- Proposed Rule Public Comments
- Marine Mammal Commission Proposed Rule Comments (pdf, 14 pages)
- Notice of Receipt Public Comments (pdf, 27 pages)
Effective
06/05/2020
MMPA List of Fisheries for 2020
NOAA Fisheries publishes its List of Fisheries for 2020, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The List of Fisheries for 2020 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries must…
Effective
05/18/2020
Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Marine Corps Training Activities at Cherry Point Range Complex, NC
NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to incidentally harass marine mammals during training exercises at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point Range Complex, North Carolina. The…
Effective
05/18/2020