NOAA Fisheries requests comments by July 28, 2011, on its proposed changes to the List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2012. The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires NOAA Fisheries to publish an annual list of commercial fisheries and classify each fishery based on whether it has frequent (Category I), occasional (Category II), or remote likelihood (Category III) of incidental mortality and serious injury (or bycatch) of marine mammals. The classification of a fishery on the LOF determines whether participants in that fishery are subject to certain provisions of the MMPA, such as registration, observer coverage, and take reduction plan regulations. NOAA Fisheries is proposing changes in the classification of certain fisheries, additions and deletions of fisheries on the LOF, changes to the list of species or stocks killed or injured in certain fisheries, and other administrative changes. The proposed LOF for 2012 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals based on information in the most recent Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SAR), NOAA Fisheries Observer Program incidental take statements, stranding network data, fishermen self reports, and anecdotal reports from marine mammal researchers and fishermen. For more information about the List of Fisheries program and to see the Proposed 2012 List, visit: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/lof/ Direct link to comment form: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=NOAA-NMFS-2011-0146-0001 Best Regards, Jonathan Shannon -- Jonathan Shannon NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr Outreach Specialist * (301) 427-8431 * New phone number jonathan.shannon@noaa.gov