Texas Gets License to Oopsie-Daisy Endangered Turtles
Published Date: 9/2/2026
Notice
Summary
Notice is hereby given that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been issued an incidental take permit (ITP) for the incidental take of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed sea turtles associated with the otherwise lawful fisheries-independent gill net survey activities within Texas bays and estuaries.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
10‑Year Incidental Take Permit Issued
NOAA issued Texas Parks and Wildlife Department an incidental take permit effective September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2036 that authorizes specific numbers of sea turtle takes during TPWD fisheries‑independent gill net surveys. The permit authorizes, among other limits, up to 43 live and 31 dead green sea turtles on a 3‑year rolling basis (maximum 247 green takes over 10 years), and totals of 3 live/1 dead loggerhead, 1 live/1 dead hawksbill, and 13 live/3 dead Kemp's ridley turtles over the 10‑year permit.
Required Survey Conservation Measures
TPWD must follow a Conservation Plan when running gill net surveys, including limiting sampling to two 10‑week seasons (fall and spring), identifying hotspot 1‑minute grid cells with extra protections (like a last‑in/first‑out rule and removing a grid after one endangered entanglement), observing for 30 minutes before/during deployment, and repairing nets to eliminate holes larger than 6 inches (15.24 cm) stretched mesh.
Funding and Mitigation Assurances
TPWD provided NOAA assurances that adequate funding exists to support the Conservation Plan and mitigation activities for the permit duration, including cold‑stunning recovery, shrimp fishery management and law enforcement, habitat protection, outreach, education, and debris removal. Funding sources cited include Texas state appropriations and supplements such as Natural Resource Disaster Assessment and Sport Fish Restoration funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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.
2026-07536, 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.
2026-17798, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a stakeholder workshop jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to facilitate a focused discussion on alternatives currently under development for the Recreational Sector Separation Amendment for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-17982, Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; TANF Contingency Fund Application
The Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is proposing to collect data for state requests of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Contingency Fund provisional payments through the TANF Contingency Fund Application.
Next: 2026-17984, Arms Sales Notification; Correction
The DoD is publishing the corrected unclassified text of an arms sales notification.