National Policy for Distinguishing Serious From Non-Serious Injuries of Marine Mammals

Résumé

NMFS developed a final national policy, comprised of a Policy Directive and associated Procedural Directive, for distinguishing serious from non-serious injuries of marine mammals. The Directives provide technical guidance for analyzing marine mammal injury reports (e.g., observer, disentanglement, and stranding program reports) and incorporating the results into marine mammal stock assessment reports and marine mammal conservation management regimes (e.g., Marine Mammal Protection Act List of Fisheries, take reduction plans, ship speed regulations). NMFS is releasing its final Policy and Procedural Directives and responding to comments on the draft policy.