Hello MARMAM, NOAA Fisheries is accepting comments through December 15, 2017 <https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/11/15/2017-24642/requests-for-comments-draft-national-procedure-for-permit-applications-to-retain-releasable> on a draft procedural directive that would require applicants who want to obtain a *releasable* rehabilitated marine mammal for public display purposes to first apply for a permit to take (*i.e.,* collect) animals from the wild under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In the event NMFS would decide to grant such a permit, the NMFS OPR Director may then, at his or her discretion, require that a releasable rehabilitated marine mammal be substituted for capturing an animal from the wild, in accordance with 50 CFR 216.27. The draft procedural directive is available on our NOAA Fisheries website <http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/publicdisplay_permit.htm>. Comments can be submitted two ways through December 15, 2017: 1) Through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov/#! docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0096 2) By mail - Send comments to: Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226, Attn: Releasable Rehabilitated Marine Mammal Procedural Directive. Thank you, Jonathan Shannon *Outreach Specialist* NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources U.S. Department of Commerce jonathan.shannon@noaa.gov o: 301.427.8431 <http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/> www.fisheries.noaa.gov/opr <http://www.facebook.gov/usnoaafisheriesgov> <http://www.twitter.com/noaafisheries> <http://www.youtube.com/usnoaafisheriesgov>