Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species (APPS)

Permits enable the public to engage in legitimate activities that would otherwise be prohibited by law. Permit programs ensure that such activities are carried out in a manner that safeguards the animals and the environment that are the subject of the activities, or that might be incidentally affected by such activities. Additionally, some permits promote conservation efforts by authorizing scientific research, enhancement, and/or allowing management activities to go forward.

This online application system (APPS) covers

• Oregon state scientific taking permits for taking all fish, wildlife, and marine invertebrates in Oregon and Oregon's territorial waters for scientific study per Oregon Administrative Rules (635-007-0900 and 635-043).
  
  
• NOAA Fisheries Permits and Authorizations - Permits for activities involving marine mammals and other marine and anadromous endangered and threatened species.
  • scientific research permits
  • enhancement permits
  • 4(d) research authorizations
  • incidental take permits
  • incidental take authorizations
  • photography permits
  • General Authorizations
  • permits to import/export parts for scientific research
  • authorization to import/export pre-Act parts
  • authorization to receive U.S. stranded marine mammal parts for scientific research or education
  • permits related to public display

You may need additional permits (Federal, state, or local) not offered on this web site. Please contact your area's applicable fish and wildlife agency and see For More Information.

To determine what type of permit you might need, click on New Researcher from the Home page and go through our pre-Application Guide.

To see which species are under NOAA Fisheries' and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's jurisdiction, click on Species Lists.

Overview of NOAA Fisheries and other types of permits:

4(d) Approvals:

Certain activities, including research and enhancement, that may result in the take of certain threatened species may be approved under 4(d) rules. These are not permits, but they do provide limits on take prohibitions. To determine if your activities can be covered under 4(d), click on New Researcher and go through our pre-Application Guide. For more information on 4(d) rules in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, please visit: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/docs_cfm/contact_us.cfm

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Permits:

If you plan to conduct any activity including research, enhancement, or incidental harassment that may result in the take of a threatened or endangered species, whether or not deliberate, you need a permit. For more information, please visit: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/esa_permits.htm

Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Permits:

• scientific research on marine mammals
• import/export of marine mammal parts for scientific research
• enhancement of the survival or recovery of a species or stock
• commercial and educational photography
• first-time import for public display
• capture from the wild for public display
• incidental take during commercial fisheries
• incidental take during non-fisheries activities

Some marine mammals species are also protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Fur Seal Act (FSA) which can mandate additional restrictions.

For More Information:

MMPA permits - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/node/22701
ESA permits - https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/esa_permits.htm
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region main page - https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region 4(d) rule - https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/docs_cfm/contact_us.cfm
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region Electrofishing Guidelines - https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/reference_documents/esa_refs/section4d/electro2000.pdf
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - https://www.dfw.state.or.us

Other State Fishery Agencies:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife - https://wildlife.ca.gov/Organization/FB/Permitting
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - https://myfwc.com/seaturtle/
Idaho Department of Fish and Game - https://fishandgame.idaho.gov
Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds - https://www.oregon-plan.org
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - https://wdfw.wa.gov

Permits not covered by this web site:

West Coast Federal Fisheries Permits - https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish/index.html
NOAA Fisheries permits for Atlantic tunas, bluefin tunas, etc. - https://www.nmfspermits.com
Other NOAA Fisheries Permits - https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/regulationspermits.htm

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Permits - https://fwsepermits.servicenowservices.com/fws
Marine Sanctuaries - https://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov
National Parks - https://www.nps.gov