Sea Otters vs. Sardine Fishers: Report Those Cute Encounters!
Published Date: 5/7/2026
Notice
Summary
NOAA is asking for public feedback on renewing a rule that requires Pacific sardine fishers to report any sea otter encounters. This helps protect sea otters while keeping the fishery running smoothly. Comments are open until July 6, 2026, and there’s no new cost—just a little paperwork to keep everyone safe and informed.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory Sea Otter Reporting for Sardine Fishers
If you operate a Pacific sardine vessel, you must report any southern sea otter entanglement within 24 hours and other otter observations within 20 days to the Regional Administrator. Reports must include location (latitude and longitude) and a description (e.g., whether otters were inside or outside the net, number present, duration, behavior, and measures taken). The collection is mandatory, estimated at 15 minutes per response, with an estimated total annual burden of 0.5 hours and $10 in reporting costs for the two respondents listed.
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