First, on March 8-11, 2017, Acquario di Genova will host the 45th Symposium of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Professional experts, curators, veterinarians, trainers, researchers from all over Europe will get together to share experiences, protocols and research activities concerning the management and protection of aquatic mammals.
The Key note speakers are Diana Reiss, Vincent Jannik and Sandro Mazzariol.
Click here or here for more details.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has completed its review of the status of eastern North Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) in Iliamna Lake, Alaska. NMFS’ review was in response to a petition to list these seals as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Based on the best scientific and commercial information available, we conclude that the seals in Iliamna Lake do not constitute a species, subspecies, or distinct population segment under the ESA. As a result, NMFS has concluded that listing the harbor seals in Iliamna Lake, Alaska is not warranted.
The Darnley Bay area of the Beaufort Sea near Paulatuk, N.W.T., has been set aside to protect important habitat for several Arctic marine species.
The new Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area covers about 2,400 square kilometres. The protected area status will prohibit activities within the area “that could disturb, damage, or destroy these living organisms.”
“It’s a general prohibition so it prohibits any activities that will impact marine organisms or habitat in the area,” said Cal Wenghofer with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is authorized to issue regulations to facilitate the implementation of the sustainable harvest management obligations under the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Conservation and Management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population. To that end, FWS is soliciting public comment on the development of a regulatory program and local management structures for carrying out the responsibilities under the U.S.- Russia Agreement and title V of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has asked the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to aprove NOAA’s current Information Collection request for the Papaha¯naumokua¯kea Marine National Monument Permit Application and Reports for Permits. This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved information collection. There will be minor changes to the forms and instructions.
On June 15, 2006, President Bush established the Papaha¯naumokua¯kea Marine National Monument by issuing Presidential Proclamation 8031 (71 FR 36443, June 26, 2006) under the authority of the Antiquities Act (16 U.S.C. 431). The proclamation includes restrictions and prohibitions regarding activities in the monument consistent with the authority provided by the act.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issue a final rule designating the Sakhalin Bay-Nikolaya Bay-Amur River Stock of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) as a depleted stock of marine mammals pursuant to the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. This action is being taken as a result of a status review conducted by NMFS in response to a petition to designate a group of beluga whales in the western Sea of Okhotsk as a depleted stock. The biological evidence indicates that the group is a population stock as defined by the MMPA, and the stock is depleted as defined by the MMPA.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received a request from the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to conducting fisheries research, over the course of five years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS is announcing receipt of the AFSC’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the AFSC’s application and request. Comments and information must be received by NMFS no later than November 17, 2016.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new information. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2016 SARs. NMFS must receive any comments by January 9, 2017.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issued an incidental harassment authorization to the U.S. Air Force 86 Fighter Weapons Squadron to incidentally harass marine mammals during Long Range Strike Weapons System Evaluation Program activities in the Barking Sands Underwater Range Extension area of the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii. This authorization was issued under NMFS’ regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Agency. It is effective from October 1, 2016, through November 30, 2016.
Click here for NMFS’ Federal Register notice of this action, which contains links and more details.
National Public Radio has published an article on the problem of marine mammals’ entanglement in abandoned fishing nets.