How Do I?
- Apply for a fishing permit?
- Check on my fishing permit application status?
- Apply for research grants?
- Check the status of current landings and annual catch limits?
- Find information about current and developing regulations?
- Report a dead or injured whale or dolphin?
- Report a dead, injured or entangled sea turtle?
- Initiate Consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act?
NOAA Seeks Public Comment for Proposed Rule to Require Turtle Excluder Device Use for Skimmer Trawls, Pusher-Head Trawls, and Wing Nets (Butterfly Trawls)
In an effort to strengthen sea turtle conservation efforts, NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on a newly proposed rule. The rule, if implemented, would require all skimmer trawls, pusher-head trawls, and wing nets to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in their nets. For more on this proposed rule and how to comment please click here
NOAA Fisheries proposes to list the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale subspecies as endangered under the ESA
We, NMFS, have found that the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale is in danger of extinction throughout all of its range and meets the definition of an endangered species. We are soliciting information that may be relevant to inform both our final listing determination and designation of critical habitat. Click here to learn more…
NOAA Fisheries Announces the Release of the Population Enhancement Management Plan for Threatened Elkhorn and Staghorn Corals.
The management plan provides best management practices to minimize risks to native populations and guidelines to maximize recovery potential. It covers all aspects of population enhancement, from collection and nursery cultivation, to outplanting, monitoring, and reporting.
NOAA Fisheries alerts boaters that right whales are migrating near the coast
North Atlantic right whales are on the move, making their way south along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. for the winter, and NOAA is cautioning boaters to give them plenty of room...click here to read the entire press release
New Southeast Region Text Message Alert Program
NOAA Fisheries Southeast is pleased to announce the introduction of our Text Message Alert Program. The program will allow you to sign up to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS).
Visit the Text Message Alert Program home page for more information on how to sign up.
Meet a NOAA shark scientist
This week we are celebrating some of our NOAA shark scientists. Get to know the people who study these fascinating fish and find out more about some of their most memorable encounters.
Click here to read more about NOAA's shark scientists
NOAA Fisheries designates critical habitat for the Carolina and South Atlantic Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic sturgeon
Map of Critical Habitat Rivers
Endangered sea turtles set for release back into the wild
NOAA fisheries and the Houston Zoo partner to rehabilitate and release injured turtles.
Click to read full press release
Violence against dolphins in Northern Gulf Continues
NOAA Enforcement seeks tips after a dolphin is found dead with bullet in it off Okaloosa Island
NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement in Niceville, Fla., is investigating a case involving a dolphin found late
Monday afternoon with a bullet lodged in its shoulder.
Click to read full press release
Photo credit: Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge
U.S. fisheries continue to rebuild; number of overfished stocks remains near all-time low
Total number of rebuilt U.S. marine fish stocks since 2000 rises to 39
The number of domestic fish stocks listed as overfished or subject to overfishing remain near all-time lows, according to the 2015 Status of U.S. Fisheries report to Congress.....click to read full press release
Click to see the entire Status of the Stocks report for 2015
Conservation efforts for Florida, Pacific coast green sea turtles working, agencies say
Those populations improving--now considered threatened, not endangered
Two federal agencies today issued a final rule [link to FR] that will revise the listing for green sea turtles under the Endangered Species Act, including reclassifying turtles originating from two breeding populations from endangered to threatened status due to successful conservation efforts....click to read full press release
Recreational fishing closure for Atlantic (Georgia to New York) Group Cobia
The recreational harvest of Atlantic migratory group cobia will be closed in federal waters from Georgia to New York at 12:01 a.m. on June 20, 2016....read more
NOAA expands critical habitat for endangered North Atlantic right whales
Using new information not previously available, NOAA Fisheries is expanding critical habitat for endangered North Atlantic right whales to cover its northeast feeding areas in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank region and southeast calving grounds from North Carolina to Florida...read more
A mother North Atlantic right whale and her calf. NOAA Fisheries is expanding critical habitat for these endangered animals. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
NOAA expands opportunities for U.S. aquaculture
Groundbreaking rule opens the door for seafood farming in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico NOAA filed a final rule today implementing the nation’s first comprehensive regulatory program for aquaculture in federal waters....read more
Caption: Royal Bream raises in a floating net in Marseille, France. This represents one type of farming technology that could work in the Gulf. Credit: Giles Lemarchand
Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2016 - 2020
NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2016-2020 considers NOAA Fisheries core mandates in the context of current fiscal conditions. The plan is not intended to capture everything that SERO will accomplish during the 5-year planning period....read more
NOAA Predicts Below-Average Season for Commercial Harvest of Brown Shrimp in Western Gulf of Mexico
The harvest of brown shrimp in the western Gulf of Mexico is expected to be 42.8 million pounds, which is below the historical 54-year average of 56.5 million pounds....read more
More than 50 endangered sea turtles set for release back into the wild
On Wednesday May 27, NOAA Fisheries, the Houston Zoo and Moody Gardens will release 51 sea turtles at Stewart Beach in Galveston, Texas. Forty-nine of the turtles are Kemp’s...
Click to read the full press release
Dolphin SMART® welcomes two new Florida businesses dedicated to conservation of dolphins in coastal waterways
NOAA Fisheries and its partners welcome Odyssey Cruises and Captain Dennis Wilson Charters to Dolphin SMART - a unique wild dolphin conservation program. Dolphin SMART recognizes businesses that responsibly advertise and view wild dolphins and educate their patrons on dolphin conservation....read more
NOAA publishes final recovery plan for threatened corals
NOAA Fisheries is publishing a recovery plan for elkhorn and staghorn corals. The plan identifies criteria that, when met, will allow the coral species to be removed from the list of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). .....read more
Orange County Brothers Guilty of Killing Bottlenose Dolphin in Cow Bayou, Texas
Two Bridge City, Texas brothers have pleaded guilty to federal wildlife violations after they shot at several dolphins, killing one, while they were fishing. The Department of Justice issued a press release outlining the case..... read more
Interview with a Scientist: Saving the Bumphead Parrotfish
They are unique looking and the largest of all the parrotfish in the world. Now a new publication outlines research being done on the reproduction habits of the bumphead parrotfish in order to protect and conserve the species. Click here for more with fishery expert, Dr. Roldan Munoz and his recent work featured in PeerJ.
Photo: Dr. Munoz studies bumphead parrotfish
Tips lead to break in the case of a dolphin found dead, shot with a hunting arrow in Northern Gulf of Mexico
NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement positively identified a juvenile who admitted to shooting a bottlenose dolphin with a hunting arrow in Florida state waters. That dolphin was found dead more than a week later in Orange Beach, Ala.
NOAA federal agents requested assistance...read more
First right whales of season spotted off Georgia coast
The mom/calf pair were spotted Saturday, Dec. 13 by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission aerial survey team east of Cumberland Island, GA. The mom is a known right whale. She is 24 years old. This is her fifth documented calf. Her last calf was born in 2009.
Photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, taken under NOAA permit #15488
Reward increases to $20,000 for Alabama case of dolphin killed with hunting arrow
The reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person (s) responsible for killing a bottlenose dolphin in Orange Beach, Ala., with a hunting arrow has increased to $20,000. Several organizations contributed to....read more
NOAA seeks tips on dolphin killed with hunting arrow in Orange Beach, Alabama
NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement is investigating a second human related dolphin death in the Northern Gulf of Mexico in just two weeks. Another dolphin stranded dead - this time with a hunting arrow in its side....read more
NOAA seeks information on pregnant dolphin found dead on Miramar Beach, Florida
NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the case involving a pregnant bottlenose dolphin found dead on Miramar Beach in Choctawatchee Bay, FL....read more
NOAA Fisheries alerts mariners, right whales are on the move
The endangered species travels south for the winter. This time every year, marine biologists with NOAA Fisheries, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission remind all mariners that North Atlantic right whale calving season begins in mid-November and runs through mid-April....read more
Dolphin Harassment Continues in Florida Panhandle, Tour Boat Operator Fined
On July 8, 2014, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrative Law Judge upheld a fine issued by NOAA’s Office of General Counsel, Enforcement Section, and assessed a civil penalty of $4,500 on a Panama City business and its boat captain for their role in feeding wild dolphins...read more
Marine Outreach and Education USVI Style: Don't Stop Talking Fish Initiative
To address a critical need to capture, document, showcase and celebrate USVI fisheries heritage and culture the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program and Sea Grant Puerto Rico, in collaboration with other local and regional partners of the Marine Outreach and Education USVI Style Initiative: “Don’t Stop Talking Fish” project are in the process of coordinating a fisheries-based cultural event with focus to build awareness and appreciation for fisheries resources, habitat and fishers....read more
NOAA Fisheries announces: morbillivirus outbreak reaches Florida
NOAA Fisheries experts provide update on dolphin unusual mortality event along the east coast. According to experts the morbillivirus killing hundreds of bottlenose dolphins along the east coast has now reach Florida.....read more
For more on why animals strand click here. For more on bottlenose dolphins click here.
Listen to press conference held Nov. 8.
News Room
- 12/08/2016
- NOAA Fisheries alerts boaters that right whales are migrating near the coast
- 09/14/2016
- NOAA sponsors eighth annual Right Whale Festival
- 07/08/2016
- NOAA predicts below average season for commercial harvest of brown shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico
- 06/02/2016
- NOAA issues proposed rules designating critical habitat for Atlantic sturgeon
- 05/27/2016
- Endangered sea turtles set for release back into the wild
- 05/11/2016
- Violence against dolphins in the Northern Gulf continues
- 04/20/2016
- U.S. fisheries continue to rebuild; number of overfished stocks remains near all-time low
- 04/05/2016
- Conservation efforts for Florida, Pacific coast green sea turtles working, agencies say
- 01/26/2016
- NOAA expands critical habitat for endangered North Atlantic right whales
- 01/15/2016
- NOAA expands opportunities for U.S. aquaculture
Open For Comment
Open For Comment
- 12/21/2016
- NOAA Fisheries Seeks Public Comment on a Proposed Rule for Hogfish in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Region - Comment Period Ends on January 17, 2017
- 12/21/2016
- NOAA Seeks Public Comment for Proposed Rule to Require Turtle Excluder Device Use for Skimmer Trawls, Pusher-Head Trawls, and Wing Nets (Butterfly Trawls) - Comment Period Ends February 14, 2017
- 12/21/2016
- NOAA Fisheries Seeks Public Comment on Modification of King Mackerel Management Measures for the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region - Comment Period Ends on February 13, 2017
- 12/21/2016
- Notice of Availability for Public Comments on an Amendment to Revise Hogfish Management Measures in the Gulf of Mexico - Comment Period Ends January 3, 2017
- 12/29/2016
- NOAA Fisheries Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rule to Modify King Mackerel Management Measures for the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region - Comment Period Ends on January 30, 2017