The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received an application from the National Science Foundation Division of Polar Programs, and Antarctic Support Contract 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, 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.
Comments and information must be received by NMFS no later than February 3, 2014.
Click here to read NMFS’ Federal Register notice of this proposed IHA.
