🎣New Regulation on Shortraker Rockfish for Alaska Fisheries
NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) except by catcher/ processors checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who are fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit. This action is necessary because the 2025 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish for vessels other than these catcher/processors has been reached.
Learn More🎣Temporary Closure of Recreational Fishing for Chinook Salmon in Alaska
NMFS is prohibiting recreational fishing for Chinook salmon in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary for the conservation of Cook Inlet Chinook salmon stocks that continue to be in a low state of abundance as assessed in the NMFS 2025 stock assessment and fisheries evaluation (SAFE) report and the 2025 State of Alaska forecasts of very low run strength.
Learn More🐬Incidental Harassment Authorization for Geotechnical Surveys in St. George, Alaska
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to incidentally harass marine mammals during geotechnical drilling in St. George, Alaska.
Learn More🎣NMFS Opens Fishing for Pacific Cod in Alaska's BSAI Management Area
NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors (CPs) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to AFA trawl CPs in the BSAI.
Learn More🐟Cost Recovery Fee Notice for Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program
NMFS publishes the standard ex-vessel prices and fee percentage for cost recovery under the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program). This action is intended to provide participants in a rockfish cooperative with the standard prices and fee percentage for the 2024 fishing year, which was authorized from May 1 through November 15. The fee percentage is 3.00 percent. The fee payments were due from each rockfish cooperative on or before February 15, 2025.
Learn More🌊ORPC Hydrokinetic Pilot Project License Application Notice
The Department of Energy, through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has issued a notice for Ocean Renewable Power Company's hydrokinetic pilot project. It details the project's intent to file a license application and requests for regulatory waivers, while soliciting public comments and facilitating consultations regarding environmental and historic preservation laws.
Learn More🐋Regulations on Marine Mammal Taking for Alaska LNG Project
NMFS has received a request from 8 Star Alaska, LLC (8 Star Alaska), a subsidiary of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC), for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to construction of the Alaska LNG Project in Cook Inlet, Alaska over the course of 5 years beginning on January 1, 2026. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of 8 Star Alaska's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and associated Letter of Authorization (LOA). NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on 8 Star Alaska's application and request.
Learn More🦌Notice of Information Collection on Reindeer in Alaska
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), are proposing to renew an information collection.
Learn More🐟Proposed Harvest Specifications for Salmon Fishery in Cook Inlet
NMFS proposes 2025 harvest specifications for the salmon fishery of the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for salmon during the 2025 fishing year and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska (Salmon FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the salmon resources in Cook Inlet EEZ Area in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act).
Learn More🌊Marine Mammal Protection Notice for Seward Freight Dock Construction
NMFS has received a request from the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the Seward Freight Dock construction project in Seward, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in the Request for Public Comments section at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
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