Recent Department of Commerce regulations affecting small businesses

NMFS seeks public comment on Regulatory Amendment 36 to revise recreational vessel limits for gag and black grouper and commercial transit storage requirements for ropeless black sea bass pots in the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery.

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Tilefish Monitoring Committee will hold a public webinar meeting to review monitoring protocols and management recommendations.

NMFS proposes increasing the annual catch limit for Guam bottomfish from 31,000 to 34,500 pounds and replacing in-season accountability measures with post-season adjustments.

NMFS requests public comments on proposed incidental harassment authorizations for marine mammal takes during the Francis Scott Key Bridge Rebuild project in Baltimore, Maryland under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

NOAA's Office of Education requests OMB approval for information collection activities related to scholarship, fellowship, and internship programs; public comments are due within 60 days of Federal Register publication.

NMFS invites public comments on a proposal to issue incidental harassment authorizations to Tradepoint TiL Terminal for marine mammal takes during the Sparrows Point Container Terminal construction project in Baltimore, Maryland.

The USPTO seeks public comments through January 2026 on information collection renewal 0651-0034 regarding secrecy orders and export licenses, extending the comment period by 30 days to assess reporting burden compliance with the Paperwork Reduction…

NMFS closes the South Atlantic recreational gag season on August 2, 2026, due to 2025 landings exceeding the annual catch limit.

NMFS releases 21 final 2024 marine mammal stock assessment reports required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act after incorporating public comments.

NMFS is reviewing an exempted fishing permit application from Cultimar Technologies to collect 200 sexually mature American red snapper from Federal Atlantic waters off Florida for broodstock research and aquaculture development in Puerto Rico.

The 51st U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting convened by NOAA and Department of the Interior will accept oral and written public comments on coral reef conservation and management initiatives.

NMFS prohibits directed pollock fishing in Gulf of Alaska Statistical Area 610 to prevent exceeding the 2026 total allowable catch A season allocation.

NMFS sets the annual catch limit for main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 bottomfish at 493,000 pounds for fishing years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, with automatic fishery closure if the limit is reached.

Pacific Fishery Management Council's Sacramento River Fall Chinook Workgroup holds an online meeting in May 2026 to address fishery management issues.

Federal regulations govern the taking and importing of marine mammals, with exemptions for scientific research and incidental catches during commercial fishing operations.