Federal Register #2026-15163

NOAA Issues Marine Mammal Research Permits and Spiny Dogfish Fishing Exemption

This summary covers recent permit awards and exemptions issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA under the Department of Commerce: - Government Buyer: - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources, Department of Commerce, NOAA - Marine Mammal and Endangered Species Research Permits: - Permits authorize research on 14 cetacean species and 2 pinniped species, with a focus on North Atlantic right whales - Research activities include: - Vessel and aerial surveys - Biological sampling (blow, feces, sloughed skin, biopsies) - Photography, videography, photogrammetry, thermal imaging - Passive acoustic recordings - Suction-cup tagging - Permits allow import, export, and receipt of cetacean parts for analysis and curation - No specific OEMs or vendors are named, as this is a permit for scientific research - Exempted Fishing Permit for Spiny Dogfish: - Issued to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries - Allows up to 50 federally permitted vessels to exceed possession limits and land up to 37,500 lb of spiny dogfish per week in the Northern Region fishery - Applies from September through December, with up to 4 trips per vessel per week and a total of up to 7,200 fishing days - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Research permits focus on monitoring demographics, health, and human impacts on marine mammals, especially endangered species - Fishing exemption is limited in scope, duration, and vessel participation - No commercial products, OEMs, or vendors are being procured; these are regulatory and research permits

Description

This notice announces the issuance of permits under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The permits allow research on various marine mammal species, including cetaceans and pinnipeds, in U.S. and international waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Research activities include vessel and aerial surveys, biological sampling, and tagging, with a focus on monitoring demographics, health, and anthropogenic impacts, especially on North Atlantic right whales. The permits are issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Department of Commerce and NOAA.

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