Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Navy Testing and Training Activities in the Point Mugu Sea Range Study Area
Summary
NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the U.S. Navy (Navy), has issued regulations to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the training and testing activities conducted in the Point Mugu Sea Range Study Area. The Navy’s activities qualify as military readiness activities pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species and their habitat, and establish requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
