Data / Federal rules / 2025-19806

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Military Readiness Activities in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Study Area

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published this final rule in the Federal Register on November 7, 2025. It took effect on November 14, 2025.

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What the agency says

NMFS, upon request from the U.S. Department of the Navy (including the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps (Navy)) and on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard; hereafter, Navy and Coast Guard are collectively referred to as Action Proponents), issues these regulations pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) Study Area over the course of 7 years from November 2025 through November 2032. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of letters of authorization (LOAs) for the incidental take of marine mammals during specified activities and timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species and their habitat, and establish requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. The Action Proponents' activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004 NDAA) and the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2019 (2019 NDAA).

Key facts

Document number: 2025-19806
Type: Final rule
Action: Final rule; notification of issuance of letters of authorization
Agency: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Published: November 7, 2025
Takes effect: November 14, 2025
Dates: Effective from November 14, 2025, through November 13, 2032.
Docket: Docket No. 251030-0166
Regulation ID (RIN): 0648-BN17
Code of Federal Regulations: 50 CFR 218
Topics: Administrative practice and procedure; Endangered and threatened species; Fish; Fisheries; Marine mammals; Penalties; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Transportation; Wildlife
Pages: 219

The document on federalregister.gov PDF

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