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Fisheries Home » Protected Species

Welcome to the Office of Protected Resources

The Office of Protected Resources (OPR) is a headquarters program office of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service, or NMFS), under the U.S. Department of Commerce, with responsibility for protecting marine mammals and endangered marine life.

NOAA's Office of Protected Resources works to conserve, protect, and recover species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in conjunction with our Regional Offices, Science Centers, and various partners.

Recent News and Hot Topics

10/10/2012
90-Day Finding on a Petition To List Nassau Grouper under the Endangered Species Act
10/10/2012
NMFS Initiates 5-year review of four sea turtles (Kemp's ridley, olive ridley, leatherback, and hawksbill)
10/07/2012
Updated data on dolphin/ whale (Cetacean) Unusual Mortality Event in Northern Gulf of Mexico
10/01/2012
Georgia Aquarium permit application to import 18 beluga whales for public display
10/01/2012
Northeast Sink Gillnet Fishery Closure to Protect Harbor Porpoise in Gulf of Maine Delayed until February 2013
09/30/2012
Updated data on increase in sea turtle strandings in the Gulf of Mexico
09/28/2012
90-day Finding on Petitions to List the Northeastern Pacific Ocean Distinct Population Segment of Great White Shark
09/19/2012
Pacific Gas and Electric IHA Application for Marine Geophysical Survey off the Central Coast of California, Nov-Dec 2012
09/18/2012
Comment Period Reopened on Proposed Endangered Status for the Hawaiian Insular False Killer Whale DPS
09/11/2012
Negative 90-day finding on a petition to delist the Southern Oregon/ Northern California Coast ESU of coho salmon under the Endangered Species Act

» Hot Topics Archive