Search Results for keywords:"Marine Mammal Protection Act"

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes a new regulation to enable electronic filing of the Certification of Admissibility (COA) form for importing certain fish and fish products to the United States. This rule aims to streamline the entry process for non-restricted seafood imports while maintaining adherence to laws like the Marine Mammal Protection Act, enabling consistency across programs and reducing paperwork burdens. By automating the COA process through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal, NMFS intends to facilitate trade while ensuring compliance with U.S. import restrictions on fisheries from foreign nations. Stakeholders, including importers and exporters, are encouraged to submit their comments on the proposal by February 18, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a final rule that modifies the duration limits on permits and Letters of Confirmation (LOCs) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Previously, these permits and LOCs were limited to five years, but now NMFS can issue them for longer periods if deemed appropriate. This change aims to make the permitting process more efficient and less burdensome for researchers and other permit holders. Public comments regarding the proposed change have been considered, and any new permits will continue to be subject to a public comment period before issuance.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is inviting public comments on the continuation of information collection related to fishery products involved in trade restrictions, under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This collection ensures that imported fishery products comply with existing U.S. laws and standards. Public comments can be submitted via email, and the information collected helps in evaluating whether the current processes efficiently protect fishery compliance with international regulations. The NOAA aims to minimize the reporting burden while maintaining the flow of trade.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is inviting comments on an information collection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This rule would permit the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens engaged in certain activities. The goal is to evaluate whether the information collection is necessary and to minimize the public's reporting burden. The public can submit comments until May 30, 2025, to help improve the quality and clarity of the information collected.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is asking for public comments on its information collection related to incidental take authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This collection helps assess the impact on marine mammals when small numbers are taken accidentally during certain activities. NOAA requires detailed information from applicants, including assessments of impact and monitoring reports, to ensure compliance with the law. The public has 60 days to provide feedback on these collections, aiming to improve their efficiency and reduce the burden on those who must provide the information.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued regulations to allow the U.S. Navy to take marine mammals in the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Study Area. This modification permits additional takes of large whales due to vessel strikes. These regulations, effective from January 2025 to December 2025, mandate specific mitigation measures, like whale sighting notifications and limits on sonar use, to minimize impacts on marine mammals. The regulations were made after a thorough analysis and discussions with the Navy regarding potential impacts on marine mammal species, ensuring the activities have the least practicable adverse impact on these animals.