Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Threatened Fish and Wildlife; Cook Inlet Beluga Whales

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NMFS is initiating a status review of the Cook Inlet beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) to determine whether designation under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) or a change in listing classification under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is warranted. NMFS intends to undertake the review in conjunction with the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee and the Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Council. The review will give consideration to the current status of Cook Inlet belugas, their distribution, abundance and trends, food habits, biohealth parameters, and reproductive parameters. The effects of the Native subsistence harvest, and the potential effects of other humanly induced impacts, as well as beluga natural mortality will also be examined. To ensure that the review is comprehensive, NMFS is requesting that interested parties submit pertinent information and comments regarding the status of the Cook Inlet beluga whale.