Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar in the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean and Eastern Indian Ocean
What happened
NMFS, at the request of the U.S. Department of the Navy, issued regulations allowing the incidental taking of marine mammals. This applies to training and testing activities using Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active sonar. The regulations are effective for 7 years, from August 12, 2026, through August 11, 2033, in the western and central North Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean.
Why it matters
These regulations allow U.S. Navy sonar operations to proceed while establishing guidelines for minimizing harm to marine mammals. It also sets monitoring and reporting requirements to track the impact of these military readiness activities on marine mammal populations and their habitats.
Who it affects
- ›U.S. Navy personnel
- ›Marine mammal populations
- ›National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
- ›Environmental oversight organizations
The receipts are official. The summary is ours.
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