The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has published its 90- day finding on a petition to identify the Central North Pacific population of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) as a Distinct Population Segment, and to delist the DPS under the Endangered Species Act.
NMFS finds find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.
Therefore, NMFS is continuing its status review for the humpback whale to determine whether this population is a DPS and whether delisting is warranted. NMFS requests that the public provide the Service with scientific and commercial information regarding this species by July 28, 2014.
Click here for NMFS’ Federal Register notice regarding this action.