Incidental Take Authorization: NOAA Fisheries PIFSC Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific Ocean

NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources (OPR) has received a request from NOAA Fisheries' Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center for a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to take marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted in multiple specified geographical regions, over the course of five years from the date of issuance. NOAA Fisheries is proposing regulations to govern that take, and requests comments on the proposed regulations. We will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.