NMFS Tweaks Salmon Seasons Off Oregon to Mexico Border

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.

2026-07536, Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of America

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.

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.

2026-19801, Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Regulatory Amendment 36

Starting October 28, 2026, new rules will change how many gag and black groupers recreational fishers can catch and make it easier for commercial boats to carry special black sea bass traps through certain areas. These changes help protect fish populations while making fishing trips smoother and more practical. If you fish or work in the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery, these updates affect your catch limits and gear handling.

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: 2026-16576, Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirement Revision

FinCEN is issuing this final rule to adopt as final and with certain limited changes the interim final rule issued on March 26, 2025, which narrowed beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements under FinCEN's regulations implementing the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). In particular, this final rule not only continues to exempt reporting companies from having to report the BOI of U.S. person beneficial owners and U.S. person beneficial owners from having to provide BOI to reporting companies; it also exempts reporting companies from having to submit information about their U.S. person company applicants to FinCEN and exempts U.S. person company applicants from any obligation to provide their information. In addition, the final rule exempts all U.S. persons from the requirement to update information already provided to FinCEN in connection with obtaining a FinCEN identifier (FinCEN ID).