Good afternoon,

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is charged with the conservation and protection of marine mammals, including the appropriate authorization of otherwise prohibited incidental take.

NOAA Fisheries has reviewed five separate requests for authorization for take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical surveys in support of hydrocarbon exploration in the Atlantic Ocean. The applicants propose to conduct 2-D seismic surveys within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Mid- and South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Planning Areas.

NOAA Fisheries proposes to issue authorizations for these surveys with appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures to reduce impacts to marine mammals. We based our decision on extensive reviews of scientific literature on the effects of noise on marine mammals and their habitat as well as public comment received on the applications.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has responsibility for permitting these surveys and is the agency charged with making decisions about energy development in waters of the outer continental shelf.

NOAA Fisheries’ role is to ensure we minimize any impacts to marine mammals from these activities. We are accepting public comment on our proposed authorizations until July 7, 2017. You can find the proposed authorizations and links to provide public comment here.