The Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network have filed suit against the Acting Secretary of the Interior and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for allegedly failing to comply with their duty under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to issue updated stock assessment reports for sea otters, polar bears, walruses, and manatees.
Groups File Suit Over FWS’ Failure to Issue Updated MMPA Stock Assessments
Congress Considers Legislation Allowing Importation of Polar Bear Trophies
House Bill 631 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow the importation of polar bear trophies taken in “sport hunts” in Canada, and House Bill 630 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act “to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.”
Congress Considers Legislation Allowing Importation of Polar Bear Trophies
House Bill 631 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow the importation of polar bear trophies taken in “sport hunts” in Canada, and House Bill 630 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act “to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.”
Groups Sue NMFS Over Right Whale Petition
Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Defenders of Wildlife, Conservation Law Foundation, and the Center for Biological Diversity have filed suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service and Secretary of Commerce challenging the agency’s failure to respond to plaintiffs’ 2012 and 2020 petitions to address right whale injury and deaths caused by vessel strikes.
NMFS Proposes Incidental Take of Marine Mammal Rule Change
The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed to amend the regulations implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury to North Atlantic right whales, fin whales, and humpback whales. The agency is accepting comments on the proposed rule until March 1, 2021.
NMFS Proposes Incidental Take Permits for Marine Mammals
The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed to issue permits to authorize the incidental take of several species of whales, seals, and sea lions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Hawaii, and off the coast of Alaska. The agency is accepting comments on the proposed permits until November 4, 2020.
Sea Shepherd Petitions NMFS to Ban Fish Imports from New Zealand
The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced it has received a supplemental petition from Sea Shepherd requesting that the agency ban imports of fish products from New Zealand that do not satisfy the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The agency is accepting comments on the petition until October 9, 2020.
Friends of Animals Challenges Mystic Aquarium Permit Issuance
Friends of Animals has filed suit against Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and the National Marine Fisheries Service, claiming that the agency violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act and National Environmental Policy Act when it issued a permit for Mystic Aquarium to import five beluga whales.
Permit Granted to Mystic Aquarium for Import of Beluga Whales
The National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association has announced that a permit has been issued to Mystic Aquarium for the import of five beluga whales for the purposes of scientific research.