Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Navy Training Activities in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area (2017-2022)
Summary
Upon application from the U.S. Navy, NOAA Fisheries has issued regulations under the MMPA to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to the training activities conducted in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Study Area (GOA TMAA) from May 2017 through May 2022. These regulations allow us to issue a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to the Navy for the incidental take of marine mammals during the Navy's specified activities and timeframes, set forth the permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take.