NMFS Evaluating More OBIAs

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issued four 1-year Letters of Authorization to the U.S. Navy to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to their military readiness activities associated with the routine training, testing, and military operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active sonar within the northwest Pacific Ocean and the north-central Pacific Ocean. These Authorizations are effective from August 15, 2014, through August 14, 2015.

NMFS’ Federal Register notice states that the Service

Critics Assert President’s Ocean Zoning Will Shut Down U.S. Tuna Fishery

Rep. Hastings and others assert that President Obama’s Executive action to unilaterally lock-up huge portions of the Pacific Ocean will shut down the Pacific tuna fishery. Others assert that the President’s plan has no conservation benefit other than to penalize U.S. fisherman.  Click here to read an article on these assertions.