Today, NOAA Fisheries released for public review and comment proposed Incidental Take Regulations pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), related to geophysical surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA Fisheries is taking action in response to an October 2016 petition from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), to promulgate regulations governing the authorization of take of marine mammals incidental to oil and gas industry geophysical surveys conducted in support of hydrocarbon exploration and development on the outer continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico from approximately 2018 through 2023. NOAA Fisheries proposes to issue regulations including appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures to reduce impacts to marine mammals. The proposed regulations are based on extensive reviews of scientific literature on the effects of noise on marine mammals and their habitat as well as public comment received on BOEM’s petition. BOEM has responsibility for permitting these surveys and is the agency charged with making decisions about energy development in waters of the outer continental shelf. Under the MMPA, NOAA Fisheries is charged with the conservation and protection of marine mammals, including the appropriate authorization of otherwise prohibited incidental take of marine mammals. We are accepting public comment on the proposed regulations until 08-21-2018. You can find the proposed regulations, supporting documentation, and links to provide public comment here ( https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-oil-and-... ).