Search Results for keywords:"harbor seals"

Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., from the University of California San Diego, has applied for a permit to study California sea lions. The research aims to understand the physiological responses and diving behavior of these sea lions, involving capturing and tagging adult females and their pups. The study will also temporarily disturb other marine species, such as harbor seals and elephant seals. The permit request is under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and public comments on this application are invited until March 29, 2021.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed issuing an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) that would allow the United States Army Corps of Engineers to take small numbers of marine mammals during geotechnical surveys in St. George, Alaska. These surveys aim to support the construction of a small boat harbor and may incidentally affect northern fur seals, harbor seals, and possibly other marine mammals. The IHA includes measures to reduce impacts, such as temporarily stopping work if certain marine mammals are nearby and avoiding work during sensitive times, like when northern fur seals are pupping. Public comments on the proposal are being requested.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for activities related to construction at the Station Siuslaw River in Florence, Oregon. This authorization allows the USCG to incidentally harass, but not seriously harm, small numbers of certain marine mammals, like harbor seals and sea lions, during pile driving activities. The measures aim to minimize the impact on marine mammals, and the authorization specifies monitoring and reporting requirements. NMFS determined that the project will not significantly harm marine mammal populations or habitats and will not adversely impact any species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.