Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Conducting Air-to-Surface Gunnery Missions in the Gulf of Mexico

Zusammenfassung

NMFS received an application from the U.S. Air Force (USAF), Eglin Air Force Base (Eglin AFB), for renewal of an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting air-to-surface (A-S) gunnery missions in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The USAF's activities are considered military readiness activities. Pursuant to the MMPA, NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to Eglin AFB to take, by Level B harassment only, several species of marine mammal during the specified activity for a period of 1 year.