The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes a change to an existing Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) issued to Bay State Wind, LLC for marine surveys off Rhode Island and Massachusetts. This modification is necessary because Bay State Wind has encountered more common dolphins than expected and requests an increase in the number they can disturb without harm (Level B harassment). The proposed modification would raise the authorized take of common dolphins from 1,485 to 2,970, with no other changes to the authorization. The public can comment on this proposed modification until December 26, 2024.
Simple Explanation
Imagine someone wants to look around in the ocean near Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and while doing that, they accidentally see a lot more dolphins than they thought they would. So, they asked for permission to see even more dolphins without bothering them too much, and people can say what they think about this idea until December 26, 2024.