The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to estimate the annual human-caused mortality and serious injury of marine mammal stocks by source. Revisions to the guidelines and process the NMFS uses for distinguishing serious from non-serious injuries pursuant to the MMPA were implemented in 2013 and applied to the most recent 5 years (2007-2011) of human-caused injury and mortality data. Data from human-caused injury and mortality of Alaska pinnipeds and cetaceans under the jurisdiction of the NMFS were compiled for the 5-year period from 2007 through 2011. Details regarding each human-caused injury and mortality were reviewed, and the new injury criteria were applied in order to assign injuries to categories and determine severity of injuries (serious or non-serious). A total of 495 human-caused mortality and injury records for the 5-year period (2007-2011) were reviewed, sorted by stock and date, and included within this report. Details regarding the injury source, type, and severity are presented, along with the injury category and criteria supporting the determination. Mortality and injury values were assigned (0, 1, or prorated) to each event for comparison with the calculated Potential Biological Removal level for each stock.
There were no injuries from seismic.
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