The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to WesternGeco for conducting geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America. This authorization allows the incidental taking of marine mammals during these activities, under the condition that such impacts are minimal and do not significantly harm the species. The regulations ensure that the activities will have a negligible impact on marine mammal populations and include measures for mitigation, monitoring, and reporting. The authorization is in effect from March 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
Simple Explanation
The government is letting a company, WesternGeco, do some special work in the Gulf of America to look for oil and gas, and this might bother some sea animals. They promised to be very careful and try not to hurt the sea creatures too much.