Title 50

SECTION 218.152

218.152 Permissible methods of taking.

§ 218.152 Permissible methods of taking.

(a) Under letter of authorization (LOA) issued pursuant to § 216.106 of this chapter and § 218.157, the holder of the LOA may incidentally, but not intentionally, take marine mammals within the area described in § 218.150, provided the activity is in compliance with all terms, conditions, and requirements of these regulations and the LOA.

(b) The activities identified in § 218.150(c) must be conducted in a manner that minimizes, to the greatest extent practicable, any adverse impacts on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat.

(c) The incidental take of marine mammals under the activities identified in § 218.150(c) is limited to the following species, by the identified method of take and the indicated number of times:

(1) Level B harassment for all training activities - (i) Mysticetes. (A) Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Eastern North Pacific - 235 (an average of 47 per year).

(B) Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Northeast Pacific - 6,455 (an average of 1,291 per year).

(D) Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Western North Pacific - 5 (an average of 1 per year).

(E) Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), CA/OR/WA - 35 (an average of 7 per year).

(F) Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Alaska - 215 (an average of 43 per year).

(G) North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica), Eastern North Pacific - 15 (an average of 3 per year).

(H) Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), Eastern North Pacific - 30 (an average of 6 per year).

(ii) Odontocetes. (A) Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Alaska - 1,000 (an average of 200 per year).

(B) Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Alaska - 6,355 (an average of 1,271 per year).

(D) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), GOA - 13,710 (an average of 2,742 per year).

(E) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Southeast Alaska - 4,815 (an average of 963 per year).

(F) Killer whale (Orcinus orca), Alaska Resident - 1,405 (an average of 281 per year).

(G) Killer whale (Orcinus orca), Eastern North Pacific Offshore - 130 (an average of 26 per year).

(H) Killer whale (Orcinus orca), GOA, Aleutian Island, and Bearing Sea Transient - 360 (an average of 72 per year).

(I) Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), North Pacific - 4,905 (an average of 981 per year).

(J) Stejneger's beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri), Alaska - 2,880 (an average of 576 per year).

(K) Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), North Pacific - 490 (an average of 98 per year).

(iii) Pinnipeds. (A) California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), U.S. - 10 (an average of 2 per year).

(B) Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), Eastern U.S. - 1,675 (an average of 335 per year).

(D) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), South Kodiak - 5 (an average of 1 per year).

(E) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), Prince William Sound - 5 (an average of 1 per year).

(F) Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), California Breeding - 610 (an average of 122 per year).

(G) Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), Eastern Pacific - 3,565 (an average of 713 per year).

(2) Level A harassment for all training activities - (i) Odontocetes. (A) Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoidea dalli), Alaska - 12 (an average of 4 per year).

(B) [Reserved]

(ii) [Reserved]