The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received a petition to ‘‘designate the Sakhalin Bay-Amur River stock of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) as a depleted stock under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).’’ NMFS has found that the petition presents substantial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted and will initiate a status review promptly. NMFS solicits information from the public that may contribute to the status review. Information and comments must be received by NMFS by close of business on September 2, 2014.
Click here to read NMFS’ Federal Register notice seeking comment on this petition.