Recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regulations affecting small businesses

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 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 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.

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.

NOAA seeks 60 days of public comment on information collection requirements for Coastal Zone Management Act federal consistency submissions before submitting to OMB for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

University of Alaska Southeast applied for a federal permit to conduct marine mammal research in Alaska under File No. 29418.

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

Department of Commerce seeks 60 days of public comment on Fisheries Finance Program information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act before submitting to OMB for approval.

North Pacific Fishery Management Council holds a Crab Plan Team Meeting May 11-15, 2026, to address fishery management decisions affecting commercial crab operations.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Scientific and Statistical Committee will convene to review fishery science and management recommendations affecting commercial and recreational fishing operations in the Mid-Atlantic region.

NMFS establishes regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act permitting incidental marine mammal takes during geophysical surveys in the Gulf of America for 5 years through issued Letters of Authorization, with mandatory monitoring and report…

NMFS proposes removing pelagic and demersal indicator species regulations from Atlantic HMS fisheries to increase flexibility for bottom and pelagic longline permit holders.

NMFS proposes regulations under Amendment 36 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan that would add gear flexibility to limited entry fixed gear permits, remove base permit designations, eliminate season hour restrictions, and establ…