NOAA Proposes Revision to Authorization for Marine Mammal Research in California

Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public comments on a proposal to revise an authorization for taking marine mammals, specifically California sea lions, incidental to seabird research activities in central California. The current authorization, held by Point Blue Conservation Science, allows for the incidental harassment of approximately 9,871 California sea lions, but the researchers are requesting an increase in the number of authorized take due to unprecedented numbers of sea lions hauled out in areas where the research is conducted.