Taking of Threatened or Endangered Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Extension of Permits

Zusammenfassung

NMFS hereby extends the current permits for those fisheries that have negligible impacts on marine mammal stocks listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for 6 months through June 30, 1999. This action allows the incidental, but not intentional, taking of such marine mammals in commercial fishing operations. NMFS also requests comments on the criteria for determining whether such fisheries have a negligible impact on marine mammal stocks and on such other issues as whether authorizations should include provisions for taking that does not involve mortalities and/or serious injuries to marine mammals.