Biological and Conference Opinion on the Issuance of a Scientific Research Permit Nos. 19674 to Scott Kraus, New England Aquarium, and 19315 to the Center for Coastal Studies

The purpose of the proposed permits is to allow an exception to the moratoria and prohibition on takes established under the ESA and MMPA in order to allow the applicants to conduct scientific research on North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), and in doing so, incidentally harass several non-target cetacean and pinniped species. Take is defined under the MMPA as 'to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal' (16 USC 1361 et seq.) and further defined by regulation (50 CFR 216.3) as 'to harass, hunt, capture, collect, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, collect, or kill any marine mammal.