Recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regulations affecting small businesses

NMFS issued an incidental harassment authorization to the U.S. Navy permitting marine mammal takes during Pier 10 demolition and crane weight test area construction at Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut.

NMFS is accepting public comment on an exempted fishing permit application for U.S. West Coast highly migratory species fisheries to test monofilament ring tackle as alternative terminal gear for swordfish harvesting.

NMFS issues affirmative findings allowing Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain to export yellowfin tuna and products from the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean into the United States under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

NMFS proposes 2026 harvest specifications for salmon in Cook Inlet's exclusive economic zone to conserve and manage salmon resources under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

NMFS seeks public comment on an Incidental Harassment Authorization for marine mammal takes during Turnagain Marine Construction's Aak'w Landing Development Project in Juneau, Alaska, with potential one-year renewal eligibility.

NMFS proposes listing Southern Africa and Southwest Atlantic populations of tope shark as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act while finding four other populations do not warrant protection.

NMFS issues a 5-year affirmative finding for Panama allowing U.S. imports of yellowfin tuna and products harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and AIDCP compliance standards.

The National Marine Fisheries Service closes the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for Limited Access General Category vessels in 2026 after the set-aside reaches full harvest capacity.

NOAA updates its fee schedule for special access to environmental data and related products, with most public access remaining free through NCEI, CLASS, and partner programs.

New England Fishery Management Council holds five scoping meetings through 2026 to gather industry input on monkfish and skate fishery improvements, with findings informing Council work priorities in December 2026.

The National Marine Fisheries Service solicits public comment on a Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries exempted fishing permit application allowing federally permitted vessels to operate outside standard fishery regulations for research purpo…

Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils hold a joint public meeting on Blueline Tilefish Subcommittee management decisions.

Erich Jarvis at Rockefeller University has applied for a permit to import marine mammal parts for scientific research purposes.

NMFS will prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska state waters and conduct public scoping meetings to evaluate potential impacts on the Gulf of Alaska.

NOAA's Greater Atlantic Region seeks public comment on an exempted fishing permit application that would allow federally permitted vessels to conduct research fishing activities for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute outside standard fishery regul…