Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

Draft 2024 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

• Alaska Marine Mammal Stock Assessments (PDF, 74 pages)
• U.S. Atlantic Marine Mammal Stock Assessments (PDF, 141 pages)
• U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock Assessments (PDF, 48 pages)

NOAA Fisheries prepares marine mammal stock assessment reports annually, as directed by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The reports are prepared in consultation with one or more of three regional Scientific Review Groups.

NOAA Fisheries currently maintains stock assessment reports for 261 marine mammal stocks, of which 21 revised reports are included for the 2024 cycle. The draft 2024 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports are published in the Federal Register.

The 90-day public comment period for these reports ends on June 20, 2025.

Stocks are classified under two categories: “strategic” and “non-strategic.” A strategic stock is defined as at least one of the following:

• A marine mammal stock for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the potential biological removal level
• A stock which, based on the best scientific information available, is declining and is likely to be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act within the foreseeable future
• A stock which is listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, or is designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act

While not yet reflected in the draft 2024 stock assessment report revisions, pursuant to Executive Order 14172 "Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness," NOAA Fisheries will be revising relevant stock assessment reports to reflect the renaming of the area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.