Federal Register #2026-08642

NMFS Regulatory Actions: Atlantic Herring Sampling, Marine Mammal Authorizations, and Fisheries Reporting Requirements

This notice provides updates on several regulatory and research activities managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Department of Commerce: - Government Buyer: - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources - Key Activities and Authorizations: - Renewal of an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) to sample Atlantic herring populations - Involves 3 fishing vessels conducting 15 trips to collect up to 3,000 adult herring for genomic studies - Sampling areas include the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Great South Channel, and Jeffreys Ledge - Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the City of Unalaska for marine mammal take during harbor float replacement in Unalaska, Alaska - Renewal of reporting requirements for commercial fisheries under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), requiring reporting of marine mammal injuries and mortalities incidental to commercial fishing (approx. 200 reporting entities) - Products/Services Requested: - No commercial products or OEM-manufactured goods are being procured - Services include regulatory authorizations (EFP, IHA) and information collection/reporting compliance - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Genomic sampling of Atlantic herring to inform fishery management - Authorization for incidental take of marine mammals during specific construction activities - Mandatory reporting for commercial fisheries to support marine mammal protection and fishery classification - No OEMs or commercial vendors are named or solicited in this notice

Description

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites public and federal agency comments on proposed and continuing information collections related to reporting requirements for commercial fisheries authorization under Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The information collected is used to assess the impact of commercial fishing on marine mammal populations and to classify fisheries into categories for authorization requirements. The notice allows for 60 days of public comment before submission to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval. Comments are due by July 6, 2026.

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