Greetings,
An issue came up last week at the industry working group meeting with
the economist doing the right whale economic impact analysis. Several
shipping industry folks had read about the possible expansion of the
right whale critical habitats. I thought it might be useful to provide
background and additional information about this issue.
In July 2002, NOAA Fisheries received a petition from The Ocean
Conservancy requesting NOAA Fisheries consider revising and expanding
the current critical habitat for Western North Atlantic Right Whales in
waters off the northeast and southeast United States. The petition
argues that since the designation of right whale critical habitat in
1994, knowledge of the distribution and mortality of North Atlantic
right whales has increased substantially, indicating that critical
habitat boundaries may need to be revised to provide proper protection
for right whales.
On November 19, 2002, NOAA Fisheries published a notice for a 90-day
comment period on the petition, announcing that the petition presents
substantial scientific information indicating that the requested action
may be warranted. Within 1 year of the receipt of the petition, NOAA
Fisheries will determine how it intends to proceed with the requested
revision.
It is important to note that the designation of critical habitat
doesn't, in itself, restrict activities within the area or mandate any
specific management action. A critical habitat designation contributes
to the conservation of endangered and threatened species by identifying
specific areas within the geographic range of the species that contain
those physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species, thus alerting public and private entities to the importance
of the area. Therefore, critical habitat designation helps focus
Federal, state, and private conservation and management efforts in those
areas.
To view a copy of the November 19th Federal Register announcement,
please go to http://www.nero.nmfs.gov/whaletrp/rwch90day.pdf
If you are interested in submitting comments, they must be postmarked or
transmitted by facsimile by January 21, 2003.
Best regards,
Pat Gerrior
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