University Gets Permit for Accidental Sea Turtle Encounters in Fish Research
Published Date: 5/7/2026
Notice
Summary
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth got a special permit to accidentally interact with endangered sea turtles and sturgeon while doing their fish surveys. This means they can continue their important research without breaking the law, as long as they follow strict rules to protect these animals. The permit helps balance science and conservation, with no extra costs for the public and ongoing protections in place.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Conservation Plan Funding and Conditions
SMAST committed to implement monitoring, minimization, and mitigation measures including trained observers, safe handling and release procedures, and data reporting. The estimated cost to implement the conservation plan is $100,000, and the associated project developer will provide funding to SMAST to cover the surveys and conservation plan implementation.
10‑Year Incidental Take Permit Issued
The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a 10-year incidental take permit to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST). The permit authorizes incidental takes during otherwise lawful fisheries survey activities within and adjacent to the MA/RI Wind Energy Area in southern New England offshore waters, with authorizations calculated in rolling 2-year intervals.
Specific Authorized Take Limits
The permit sets numeric non-lethal take limits by species: Atlantic sturgeon — up to 10 takes per 2-year interval and 50 takes over the 10-year permit; green, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles — up to 2 takes per 2-year interval and 10 takes over the 10-year permit each. Atlantic sturgeon takes are apportioned approximately as: New York Bight 55.3%, Chesapeake 22.9%, South Atlantic 13.6%, Carolina 5.8%, and Gulf of Maine 2.4%.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-14204, Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date
NOAA is giving everyone more time before the rule that bans grappling or anchoring on Lake Ontario shipwrecks kicks in. Instead of starting in July 2026, this rule is now delayed until September 2028 to let NOAA set up mooring buoys and work with divers and boaters. This means boaters and commercial vessels can keep anchoring safely while NOAA gets everything ready without rushing.
2026-14195, Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are wiping away the official definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act starting September 14, 2026. This change affects anyone involved in protecting endangered plants and animals by shifting how “harm” is understood and enforced. It’s a big move that could change how projects and protections are handled, but no new costs or deadlines are added right now.
2026-05599, Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period and Virtual Public Hearings
NOAA got two applications from companies wanting to explore mining deep under the ocean floor. They’re holding virtual public meetings in April and want your thoughts by May 22, 2026. This affects anyone interested in ocean mining and how we protect our seas while exploring new resources.
2026-04256, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Starting April 3, 2026, new rules change shark fishing zones and times in the Atlantic to better protect sharks and manage fishing risks. Fishermen using bottom and pelagic longline gear will see updated area boundaries and must pay for electronic monitoring if fishing in certain safer zones. These changes help keep shark populations healthy while supporting responsible fishing.
2026-17126, Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (ME DMR). Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.
2026-17113, Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Commercial Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic
NMFS implements an accountability measure for the commercial harvest of blueline tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS estimates that commercial landings of blueline tilefish will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2026 fishing year. Accordingly, NMFS closes the commercial sector of blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ to protect the blueline tilefish resource from overfishing.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-09075, Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is teaming up with Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to share info about people admitted to nursing care facilities. This helps SSA manage Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Special Veterans' Benefits better. The program starts June 20, 2026, lasts 18 months, and you can comment on it until June 8, 2026.
Next: 2026-09078, Order Making Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Adjustments to Transaction Fee Rates; Correction
The Securities and Exchange Commission fixed a typo in their Fiscal Year 2026 transaction fee rates. Instead of a confusing negative sign, the fee is correctly $20.60 per million dollars traded. This correction helps traders and firms know exactly what fees to expect starting now.