Search Results for keywords:"marine mammals"

The University of Alaska Southeast has applied for an amendment to its scientific research permit (No. 24378-01) regarding marine mammals, specifically to increase the number of gray whales studied annually from 250 to 1,000 due to higher-than-expected numbers in Sitka Sound. This permit allows researchers to study various aspects of 18 species of Alaska's cetaceans, including gray, humpback, killer, and sperm whales, through methods such as photo-identification and tagging. The aim is to better understand these whales' population dynamics, demographics, and foraging strategies. The public can comment on this application until April 28, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBRP) to authorize the incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals due to construction activities for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project connecting Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. This project will involve building replacement bridges and may impact marine mammals with increased underwater noise. The authorization, requested for a period of five years starting September 2027, includes activities such as pile driving and rotary drilling, which can lead to marine mammal harassment. NMFS is inviting the public to provide comments and information on this application until April 14, 2025.

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.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued regulations to govern incidental take of marine mammals by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) for their research activities. These regulations, valid for five years, authorize unintentional separations, injuries, or deaths of marine mammals during these activities in specific regions, like the California and Antarctic ecosystems. The regulations outline permissible methods of capture and require minimized impact on marine mammal populations, along with conditions for monitoring and reporting. The rule aims to allow SWFSC to conduct necessary research while ensuring the protection and survival of marine mammals.

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.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued permits and permit amendments under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These permits are for specific entities, allowing activities that involve marine mammals and endangered species. The issued permits comply with legal requirements and ensure that activities will not harm endangered species or contradict the laws. More information is available for review by contacting specific representatives or through the Federal Register website.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a request from the University of California Santa Cruz for permission to conduct research that may incidentally affect small numbers of marine mammals along the coasts of Oregon and California over the next five years. This request, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), aims to regulate any potential disturbances during the university's rocky intertidal monitoring work. The public is invited to provide feedback on this request by January 6, 2025. NMFS will evaluate all comments before finalizing any regulations to ensure the protection of marine mammal populations while allowing necessary research activities.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a request from the U.S. Navy for permission to conduct activities that might unintentionally affect marine mammals in the Gulf of Alaska. These activities, which are part of military training, could disturb the animals due to the use of sonar and explosives. The NMFS is considering new regulations to minimize these effects and has invited the public to share their comments by a specific deadline. Additionally, the Navy has proposed several measures to protect marine life during their operations.

NMFS, a part of NOAA, has received a request from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, seeking authorization to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals during their oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska, over a five-year period. The request pertains to the incidental impact on 12 marine mammal species, including beluga whales, due to activities like tug operations, pile driving, and pipeline work, which might cause harassment at two levels. The public is invited to comment on this proposal until April 14, 2025. NMFS will use public feedback to develop regulations overseeing Hilcorp's activities.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Commerce Department, published a rule regarding the incidental taking of marine mammals during the U.S. Navy's Q8 bulkhead repair and replacement project at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. The Navy requested a delay of the rule's effective date from January 1, 2025, to August 4, 2025, and an extension of the expiration date to August 3, 2030, due to construction delays. This rule allows for the incidental impact on small numbers of marine mammals from activities like pile removal and installation, which will take place in phases over 212 non-consecutive days. The NMFS decided not to hold a further public comment period as the changes only affect the dates and not the conditions or assessments of the original rule.