The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received an application from the National Science Foundation on behalf of five research institutions: Colgate University, Columbia University, Texas A&M Research Foundation, University of South Florida, and University of Texas at Austin, for an Incidental Harassment Authorization to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting a low-energy marine geophysical (seismic) survey in the Dumont d’Urville Sea off the coast of East Antarctica, January to March 2014. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to NSF to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, 14 species of marine mammals during the specified activity.
NMFS must receive any comments and information must no later than February 3, 2014.
NMFS continues to use 160, 180 and 190 dB to regulate these proposed seismic operations.
Click here to read NMFS’ Federal Register notice of proposed IHA.
