Contact Us
  Protected Resources Division
  263 13th Avenue South 
  Saint Petersburg, FL  33701

  Phone: (727) 824-5312
 

Protected Resources Division

The Protected Resources Division is responsible for the conservation, protection, and recovery of marine mammals and endangered and threatened species. We implement the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA). 

Through policy, management, and public outreach, the Protected Resources Division strives to ensure the recovery and survival of protected marine species for future generations in the waters of the southeastern United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

New Proposed Turtle Excluder Device Requirements (Proposed Rule, DEIS, and FAQs)

Protected Resources Press Releases:

Archives

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
05/11/2016
Violence against dolphins in the Northern Gulf continues
01/26/2016
NOAA expands critical habitat for endangered North Atlantic right whales
11/09/2015
NOAA Fisheries alerts boaters that right whales are migrating near the coast
07/17/2015
NOAA law enforcement seeking tips on severly injured dolphin in John's Pass, FL
06/24/2015
NOAA releases nearly 200 Florida loggerhead sea turtles into the wild
06/23/2015
Defendant Sentenced in Endangered Species Case
03/20/2015
Successful Conservation Efforts Along Florida, Pacific Coasts Recognized in Revised ESA Listing of the Green Sea Turtle
03/06/2015
NOAA reminds beachgoers to be dolphin smart during spring break
02/19/2015
Orange County Brothers Guilty of Killing Bottlenose Dolphin in Cow Bayou
02/19/2015
NOAA proposes to expand critical habitat for endangered North Atlantic Right Whales
12/19/2014
Tips lead to break in the case of a dolphin shot with a hunting arrow
12/09/2014
NOAA seeks tips on dolphin killed with hunting arrow in Orange Beach, Alabama
11/21/2014
NOAA seeks information on pregnant dolphin found dead on Miramar Beach, Florida
11/13/2014
NOAA Fisheries alerts mariners, right whales are on the move
11/07/2014
Sixth Annual Right Whale Festival Set for November 15
09/16/2014
NOAA awards $2.7 million to rescue stranded marine mammals and investigate health problems
07/09/2014
NOAA Releases 185 Florida loggerhead sea turtles into the wild
07/01/2014
NOAA predicts below-average season for commercial harvest of brown shrimp in western Gulf of Mexico
11/19/2013
NOAA unveils two new smartphone apps to help marine mammals
11/14/2013
NOAA announces regulations to protect marine mammals during Navy training and testing in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
11/13/2013
NOAA Fisheries reminds boaters, right whales are on the move
11/13/2013
NOAA Fisheries sponsors 5th annual right whale festival
06/21/2013
NOAA releases 141 Florida loggerhead sea turtles into the wild
06/10/2013
Wild dolphin conservation program welcomes two new participants on the West Coast of Florida
06/05/2013
NOAA proposal extends rule reducing risk of whale ship strikes along U.S. East Coast
01/28/2013
NOAA seeks comment on regulations to protect marine mammals during Navy training and testing in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
11/30/2012
NOAA proposes listing 66 reef-building coral species under the Endangered Species Act
11/27/2012
New data prompts NOAA Fisheries to withdraw proposed rule to require turtle excluder devices in certain shrimp trawls
11/14/2012
NOAA Fisheries alerts boaters, right whales are on the move
10/31/2012
NOAA sponsors fourth annual right whale festival
10/18/2012
NOAA encourages calls to report and monitor entangled, diseased dolphin in southwest Florida
09/25/2012
NOAA seeks information on dead dolphin found on Elmer's Island, Louisiana
08/22/2012
Humans feeding and interacting with wild dolphins leads to injuries and federal prosecutions in southeast U.S.
05/09/2012
Public comment period begins for court ordered NOAA proposal designed to protect sea turtles from certain trawling activities
11/17/2011
NOAA Fisheries Service to Sponsor International Marine Mammal Conference
11/14/2011
NOAA sponsors third annual right whale festival
11/09/2011
NOAA Fisheries Service advises mariners, right whales are on the move
09/22/2011
Agencies partner to help save endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles
09/20/2011
Bottlenose Dolphin Dies After Numerous Entanglements
09/16/2011
NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revise loggerhead sea turtle listing Changes will help guide conservation efforts
07/06/2011
Wild dolphin conservation program expands along Florida's west coast
06/24/2011
NOAA steps up effort to address sea turtle mortality, seeks public input
03/29/2011
NOAA Releases Marine Etiquette Video for Visitors to the U.S. Caribbean
12/31/2010
NOAA and Partners Assist Entangled Right Whale off East Coast of Florida
12/03/2010
Wild Dolphin Stewardship Program Welcomes New Florida Keys Tour Operator
11/24/2010
NOAA Expedition Explores Previously Uncharted Deep-sea Coral Reefs off Florida
11/10/2010
Heightened Mariner Awareness Requested During Right Whale Birthing Season
11/03/2010
Wild Dolphin Conservation Program Expands along Florida's West Coast
11/03/2010
Scientists Launch Investigation into Dolphin Strandings near Jacksonville, FL
08/18/2010
Scientists Release the First Rescued, Rehabilitated Sea Turtles Back into the Gulf
07/08/2010
Protecting Wild Dolphins During the Gulf Oil Spill
11/30/2009
First Annual Right Whale Festival in Jacksonville, FL
09/01/2009
NOAA Increases Protection for Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish Habitat
08/05/2009
This is the Exit Disclaimer icon Florida Students Team With Federal, State Agencies To Study Coral Reefs
04/29/2009
NOAA Announces Emergency Rule to Protect ‘Threatened’ Sea Turtles
03/11/2009
“Don’t Feed Wild Dolphins” Says New Public Service Announcement Illegal feeding harms both animals and humans
03/10/2009
Scientists Successfully Sedate Entangled Right Whale – A Worldwide First!
03/05/2009
NOAA and Partners Recognize Newest Business to Join Dolphin SMART Program
02/12/2009
Crews Work to Free Another Right Whale From Entangling Ropes Three Whales are Rescued, But Two Still Endangered
01/16/2009
Agencies Issue Revised Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Loggerhead Sea Turtle
12/27/2008
NOAA and Partners Attempt Disentanglement of Right Whale off Florida
11/12/2008
NOAA Advises Mariners to Watch for Migrating Right Whales
10/28/2008
NOAA Issues Stronger Protections for Elkhorn and Staghorn Corals in Southeast United States
10/08/2008
Ship Strike Reduction Rule Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales
08/25/2008
NOAA Files Final Environmental Impact Statement on Ship Strike Reduction Measures Agency Seeks to Slow Ships to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales
08/25/2008
Final Environmental Impact Statement on Ship Strike Reduction Rule Is Filed (Media Advisory)
06/06/2008
NOAA Confirms Caribbean Monk Seal Extinct
05/20/2008
NOAA Honors Shrimp Fishermen for Pioneering Turtle-Saving and Fuel-Saving Gear
05/20/2008
NOAA Honors U.S.-Mexico Program for Restoring Sea Turtles
04/10/2008
NOAA Seeks Public Comment on Navy's Request for Marine Mammal Permit During New Ship Test
02/06/2008
NOAA Proposes Critical Habitat for Threatened Elkhorn and Staghorn Corals
12/18/2007
NOAA Seeks Greater Protections for Threatened Elkhorn and Staghorn Corals
11/13/2007
Endangered Right Whales Headed South for Winter
08/17/2007
NOAA Fisheries Service Releasing Sea Turtles into Christmas Bay, Texas
07/19/2007
IMPORTANT SIGHTING OF MOTHER AND CALF RIGHT WHALES CONFIRMED OFF NORTHEAST FLORIDA
07/02/2007
FEEDING AND HARASSING WILD DOLPHINS – A FEDERAL OFFENSE
06/29/2007
NOAA RELEASES 120 FLORIDA LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES INTO THE WILD
06/25/2007
NOAA Announces Rule to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales from Gillnet Entanglement in Southeast U.S.
06/18/2007
NOAA, USCG PROVIDE COMMERCIAL MARINERS WITH FREE INTERACTIVE GUIDE TO RIGHT WHALE PROTECTION
01/25/2007
Right Whale Calf Dies off Jacksonville, Florida
11/16/2006
NOAA Announces Emergency Rules to Protect Right Whales from Gillnet Entanglement
10/11/2006
Dolphin deaths from recreational fishing gear are on the rise - NOAA Recommends "Best Practices" for Recreational Fishers
08/29/2006
NOAA Fisheries Service Seeks Comments on Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Plan
08/22/2006
NOAA Fisheries Service Publishes Final 2006 List of Fisheries
08/17/2006
Coral Reef Restoration efforts follow ship grounding in Puerto Rico
08/03/2006
NOAA Seeks Comment on Marine Mammal Incidental Harassment Request
06/23/2006
NOAA Fisheries Service Service Asks Public to Protect Wild Dolphins
06/23/2006
NOAA Proposes Regulations to Reduce Risk of Collisions Between Ships and Endangered Northern Right Whales
05/05/2006
ELKHORN AND STAGHORN CORALS LISTED IN THREATENED STATUS
04/07/2006
NOAA Seeks Comment for the Incidental Harassment of Marine Mammals in the Gulf of Mexico
02/28/2006
NOAA and FWC Confirm Right Whales off Florida Gulf Coast Mariners asked to use caution and keep sharp lookout
01/23/2006
NOAA Fisheries Service Service Asks Public to Protect Wild Dolphins
06/28/2004
NOAA Fisheries Service Urge Boaters to Protect Sea Turtles and Marine Mammals during Fourth of July Busy Weekend
06/25/2004
NOAA Fisheries Service Completes Annual Turtle Excluder Device Testing 160 Florida Sea Turtles Returned to the Wild
03/19/2004
More than 60 Bottlenose Dolphins Die in Unusual Mortality Event in Florida: NOAA Fisheries Service Gets Preliminary Tests Results: Cause of Mortality Still A Mystery
01/26/2004
NOAA Fisheries Service Reminds Boaters: Give Right Whales Wide Berth Federal Law Prohibits Approaching Endangered Right Whales Within 500 Yards
07/11/2003
Dolphin Feeding and Harassment Is Harmful and Illegal: Boaters and Tourists Advised to Obey Law, Appreciate Dolphins From a Distance
07/03/2003
NOAA Fisheries Service Completes Annual Turtle Excluder Device Testing 160 Florida Sea Turtles Returned to the Wild
04/03/2003
NOAA TEDS RULE GOES INTO EFFECT For Most Shrimpers, New Turtle Excluder Device (TEDs) Rules Mean Minor Modifications to Nets"
03/13/2003
NOAA Fisheries Service Monitors Dolphin Dolphin Trapped in Freshwater May Need Assistance
02/21/2003
NOAA Fisheries Service Publishes Rules to Modify Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs)
09/23/2002
NOAA Fisheries Service Restricts Gillnets off Georgia and Florida to Protect Whales
04/11/2002
NOAA Fisheries Service Seeks Comment on Proposed Seasonal Gillnet Restrictions to Protect Whales Off Georgia and Florida
03/18/2002
NOAA Fisheries Service Takes Emergency Action to Protect Migrating Sea Turtles from Monkfish Gillnets off NC and VA
02/11/2002
NOAA Fisheries Service' Marine Mammal Authorization Program Integrates with States' Fishery License Systems