The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issued an incidental harassment authorization, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, to the U.S. Navy to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, five species of marine mammals during construction activities associated with a wharf construction project in Hood Canal, Washington. This authorization is effective from July 16, 2014, through February 15, 2015. Click here to read NMFS’ Federal Register notice of this IHA.
According to an Associated Press article, the New England gray seal population “has rebounded so much that some frustrated residents are calling for a controlled hunt.” The AP article explains:
“The once-thriving New England gray seal population was decimated by the mid-20th century because of hunting, with Massachusetts keeping a seal bounty on the books until the 1960s. But scientists say conservation efforts, an abundance of food and migration from Canada combined to revive the population.
Early registration is open until July 10 for the VIII International Conference “Marine Mammals of Holarctic.” This conference will be held on September 22-27, 2014 in St. Petersburg.
Key topics of the event:
— Population Biology
–Assessment and monitoring of populations
–Environment (distribution, habitat and migration, etc.)
–Behavior and Acoustics
–Physiology, health, toxicology
–New technologies and research methods
–Conservation, resource exploitation, management and legislation
–Rehabilitation, husbandry.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE (http://ctocongress.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7665ee82d7cf2775669df1fd4&id=c2e501bb06&e=b09deac1d1).
REGISTER NOW (http://ctocongress.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7665ee82d7cf2775669df1fd4&id=3d2868dc52&e=b09deac1d1) .
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has published final rules amending NMFS’ regulations implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. This rule revises the management measures for reducing the incidental mortality and serious injury to the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in commercial trap/pot and gillnet fisheries. NMFS has published these rules pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act .
NMFS also intends the measures in the Plan to benefit minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), which are not classified as strategic stocks under the MMPA, but are known to be taken incidentally in commercial fisheries.
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.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has published its intent to issue a permit for a period of three years authorizing the incidental, but not intentional, taking of three stocks of marine mammals listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act by the Hawaii deep- set and shallow-set longline fisheries. NMFS proposes to issue this permit pursuant to the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.
NMFS has made a preliminary determination that incidental taking from commercial fishing will have a negligible impact on the endangered humpback whale, Central North Pacific stock; sperm whale, Hawaii stock; and false killer whale, Main Hawaiian Islands insular stock.
In a bipartisan letter sent to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Congressmen Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and 38 members of Congress called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take immediate action to adopt long-overdue rules addressing the care of captive marine mammals.
“Sound, modern science should inform our regulations on marine mammal captivity,” said Rep. Huffman and Rep. Schiff in a joint statement. “Unfortunately, USDA has refused to act for nearly two decades, endangering humans and orcas alike. It’s unacceptable that our regulations protecting orcas and other marine mammals have not been updated to reflect the latest science. It is past time for USDA to address this issue.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (“Ag”) regulates the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain marine mammals under the Animal Welfare Act. The present standards for these animals have been in effect since 1979 and amended in 1984. Ag is conducting a rulemaking that addresses marine mammal standards on which consensus was not reached during negotiated rulemaking conducted between September 1995 and July 1966. These proposed rulers are intended to ensure that the minimum standards for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of marine mammals in captivity are based on current general, industry, and scientific knowledge and experience. Click here to access OMB’s website for these proposed rules.
Of particular interest was a presentation by Mr. Don Schregardus, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy- Environment who presented the Navy views on the Marine Mammal Protection Act. His conclusions included the following:
“Length of time necessary to obtain authorizations (>5 yrs) threatens mission critical training.
Current process is costly ($500M+ over ten yrs), manpower intensive, lengthy (4-6 yrs for each range) and unending (MMPA limits LOA to 5 years maximum).”
Hopefully the Commission will address some of these observations during the next year and report on them at the next meeting.
A.I.S., Inc. is recruiting trained and experienced PSOs for several upcoming projects in the US Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and North Pacific. Work is available starting in June. Candidates will be selected based on their experience performing PSO duties. At a minimum candidates should have the following:
* NMFS and BOEM approved training
* HUET-Helicopter Underwater Egress Training
* Water safety/survival training with swing rope training
* CPR and 1st Aid certifications
Candidates with Passive Acoustic Monitoring experience are also encouraged to apply.