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

Zusammenfassung

NMFS is announcing an extension to the public comment period for the amended permit to authorize the incidental, but not intentional, take of two stocks of marine mammals listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), by the California (CA) thresher shark/ swordfish drift gillnet fishery (>14 in mesh) and the Washington (WA)/ Oregon (OR)/CA sablefish pot fishery. On August 25, 2014, NMFS solicited comments from the public on the draft negligible impact determination and on the proposal to issue a permit to vessels that operate in these fisheries for the taking of affected endangered stocks of marine mammals. NMFS is extending the comment period for 30 days.