Marine Mammals

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service is revising the taxonomy of Monachus schauinslandi 
(Hawaiian monk seal) under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973. NMFS is revising the 
Enumeration of endangered marine and anadromous species andCritical habitat for Hawaiian monk 
seals to reflect the scientifically accepted taxonomy and nomenclature of this species. 
NMFS is revising the scientific name of the species as follows: Neomonachus schauinslandi 
(M. schauinslandi). This rule is effective January 16, 2015 without further action, unless 
NMFS receives significant adverse comment by December 17, 2014. 

Click here to read NMFS’ Federal Register notice of this action.

There is a new publication on education on marine mammal tours. The reference is

Lueck, M. (2015). Education on marine mammal tours – But what do tourists want to learn? Ocean & Coastal Management, 103, 25-33. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.11.002

Ocean & Coastal Management generously offers the opportunity to download the article until 6th January 2015, free of charge, from the following link:
http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1Q2mg3RKK-PiW1

To help inform management decisions affecting the Outer Continental Shelf, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management develops, oversees and funds the collection of environmental information as directed by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act through its Environmental Studies Program.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a final rule modifying the subsistence harvest regulations for the Eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) based on a petition from the Pribilof Island Aleut Community of St. George Island, Traditional Council.

The final rule authorizes Pribilovians of St. George Island to harvest up to 150 male young of the year fur seals annually during a new autumn harvest season from all breeding and hauling grounds, consistent with traditional practices, to meet the community’s nutritional and cultural needs. Harvests of sub-adult male fur seals will continue to be authorized during the summer season as under existing regulations, and will be allowed at additional locations.