Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals

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The Secretary of Commerce announces a prohibition on the taking of any dolphins under the general permit issued to the American Tunaboat Association (ATA) in the U.S. yellowfin tuna fishery in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) beginning at 0001 hours local time, February 8, 1994, to ensure that the aggregate dolphin mortality quota for 1994 is not exceeded. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, has determined that the 1994 calendar year aggregate maximum allowable quota mandated by the International Dolphin Conservation Act (IDCA) would have been reached if additional taking of dolphins under the permit was allowed to continue. In addition, NMFS issues a notice of a January 27, 1994, court- ordered prohibition on the taking of any of the northeastern stock of offshore spotted dolphins under the ATA permit, implemented by NMFS on February 1, 1994, and expanded by NMFS on February 4, 1994, to include all stocks of offshore spotted dolphins. This prohibition is being incorporated as a new element in the marine mammal program of the United States.