Today, NMFS announces that we are soliciting public comments on draft revisions to the Guidelines for Preparing Stock Assessment Reports Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (NMFS PD 02-204-01).

In 2020, NMFS initiated a review of its guidelines for preparing stock assessment reports for marine mammals, with a focus on addressing several topics previously identified, but not addressed in the final 2016 revisions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the targeted nature of the effort, an in-person workshop was not held as was typical in the past. Instead, an internal working group reviewed the guidelines and developed draft revisions related to 8 topics, as well as other minor revisions to improve readability, formatting, and clarity, and ensure consistency with ongoing efforts to revise NOAA Fisheries’ Serious Injury Procedural Directive (NMFS PD 02-038-01).