All Protected Resources Regulations & Actions
Critical Habitat for North Pacific Right Whales
NOAA Fisheries designates critical habitat for the North Pacific right whale in this rulemaking. The North Pacific right whale was recently listed as a separate, endangered species.
Published
09/26/2023
Critical Habitat for the Southern Resident Killer Whale
NOAA Fisheries proposed revised critical habitat designation for the Southern Resident killer whale under the ESA.
- Final Rule to Revise Critical Habitat Designation for SRKW (86 FR 41668, 08/02…
- Notice of Public Hearings (84 FR 55530, 10/17/2019)
- Proposed Rule to Revise Critical Habitat Designation for SRKW (84 FR 49214, 9/1…
- 2015 12-month Finding on Petition to Revise Critical Habitat (80 FR 9682)
- 2014 90-day Finding on Petition to Revise Critical Habitat (79 FR 22933)
Published
08/02/2021
Final Rule to Designate Critical Habitat for the Central America, Mexico, and Western North Pacific Distinct Population Segments of Humpback Whales
Critical habitat for the endangered Western North Pacific distinct population segment (DPS), the endangered Central America DPS, and the threatened Mexico DPS of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Published
04/21/2021
Determination on the Designation of Critical Habitat for Oceanic Whitetip Shark
We, NOAA Fisheries, have determined that a designation of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) is not prudent at this time
Published
03/05/2020
Announcement of Public Hearings for the Southern Resident Killer Whale and Humpback Whale Critical Habitat Proposed Rules
Notice of 6 public hearings about critical habitat designations for humpback whales and Southern Resident killer whales.
Issued
10/17/2019
Designation of Critical Habitat for Puget Sound/Georgia Basin Rockfish
We, NOAA Fisheries, issued a final rule to designate critical habitat for three species of rockfish listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA):
The threatened yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) Distinct Population Segment (DPS).
The threaten
Effective
02/11/2015
Critical Habitat Designation For Leatherback Sea Turtles Along the U.S. West Coast
We, the NOAA Fisheries, issue a final rule to revise the current critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) by designating additional areas within the Pacific Ocean. This designation includes approximately 16,910 square miles (
Effective
02/27/2012
Designation of Critical Habitat for Southern Distinct Population Segment of Eulachon
We, NOAA Fisheries, issue a final rule to designate critical habitat for the southern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Pacific eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus), pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We designate 16 specific areas
Effective
12/19/2011
Critical Habitat Designation for Black Abalone
We, NOAA Fisheries, hereby designate critical habitat for the endangered black abalone under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This designation includes approximately 360 square kilometers of rocky intertidal and subtidal habitat within five segments of t
Effective
11/28/2011
Critical Habitat Designation for Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American Green Sturgeon
More information on NOAA Fisheries designating critical habitat for the threatened Southern distinct population segments of North American green sturgeon.
Effective
11/09/2009