NOAA Shields Marine Life in Gulf Surveys
Published Date: 4/17/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting April 20, 2026, NOAA is setting new rules for companies doing geophysical surveys in the Gulf of America to protect marine mammals. These rules let companies get permission to accidentally disturb marine mammals but require them to minimize harm and report what they find. This plan lasts five years and helps balance ocean research with saving sea life.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Five-Year Reimplementation Allows LOAs
Starting April 20, 2026, NOAA reimplements incidental take regulations for geophysical surveys in the Gulf of America that run through April 19, 2031. If you are a survey operator, you can obtain Letters of Authorization (LOAs) under these regulations to lawfully conduct surveys that may incidentally disturb marine mammals during that five-year period.
Mandatory Mitigation and Monitoring Duties
Under the rule, survey operators must follow mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures such as visual and acoustic observation, shutting down acoustic sources in certain circumstances, vessel strike avoidance, and monitoring and reporting requirements. The rule also includes a time-area restriction to avoid effects to bottlenose dolphins in specified times and places.
Cap on Authorized Take per LOA
NOAA requires that any LOA issued under these regulations must not authorize taking that exceeds one-third of the abundance for any marine mammal species or stock. This cap is part of the rule's findings about negligible impact over the five-year period.
Geographic Scope Limits LOA Coverage
The regulations cover geophysical surveys in U.S. waters of the Gulf of America outside the former GOMESA moratorium area. If you plan surveys inside the former GOMESA area or outside the specified geographic region, you must pursue a separate MMPA incidental take authorization.
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