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About the Office of Protected Resources

Humpback Whale
Credit: NOAA

The Office of Protected Resources (OPR) is a headquarters program office of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service), under the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The office provides oversight and guidance on the conservation of marine mammals, endangered species, and their habitats in cooperation with our Regional Offices, Science Centers, and various partners.

We are in the process of developing a strategic plan to guide the Office from 2016-2020, learn more here.

The Office of Protected Resources has 5 divisions:

1. Permits and Conservation Division
   Implements policies and regulations for issuance of permits and authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.
   
   
2. Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division
   Develops policies and regulations to conserve marine mammals by implementing the requirements and provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and to protect sea turtles under the Endangered Species Act.
   
   
3. Endangered Species Conservation Division
   Develops and implements policies, programs and regulations to implement the provisions of the Endangered Species Act with the goal of protecting and recovering endangered and threatened marine and anadromous species and their habitats.
   
   
4. Planning and Program Coordination Division
   Provides guidance and support to the Office on budget, strategic planning, personnel management, information technology, and education.
   
   
5. Endangered Species Act Interagency Cooperation Division
   Assists and consults with Federal agencies to utilize their programs to conserve listed species and to ensure their actions will not likely jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat.
   
   

Updated: May 5, 2015