West Coast Salmon Rules Tweaked Again: Fishers Adjust

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.

2026-16394, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NOAA Diving Program

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

2026-16342, New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

The New England Fishery Management Council is holding a public meeting on August 25, 2026, to discuss important updates and rules for managing local fish populations. Fishermen, seafood businesses, and ocean lovers will want to tune in as the Council reviews catch limits and monitoring plans that could affect fishing seasons and quotas. This meeting helps keep New England’s fisheries healthy and sustainable, with no immediate costs but big impacts on future fishing rules.

Previous: 2026-16515, Air Plan Approval; Missouri; Clean Data Determination for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Missouri Portion of the St. Louis Nonattainment Area

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is determining under the Clean Air Act (CAA) that the Missouri portion of the St. Louis, MO- IL bi-state nonattainment area has achieved clean data for the 2015 8- hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard). This determination of clean data is based upon complete, quality- assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2023-2025 design value period showing that the Missouri portion of the area achieved attainment of the 2015 ozone NAAQS. The 2023-2025 design value relies upon EPA concurrence on a portion of the exceptional events request as submitted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) on November 3, 2025, and concurred on by the EPA on January 27, 2026. The EPA is also approving Missouri's November 3, 2025, clean data determination request. This final clean data determination suspends the obligations of the State of Missouri to submit certain nonattainment area planning requirements for as long as the Missouri portion of the St. Louis area continues to attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS. In a separate action, the EPA is finalizing a similar determination for the Illinois portion of the St. Louis area.

Next: 2026-16538, National Eye Institute; Notice of Meeting