| Description |
ii, 55 p. : digital, PDF file |
| System Details |
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. |
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Mode of access via the GAO web site. |
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Title from title screen (viewed on Jan. 8, 2009). |
| Note |
"December 2008." |
| Summary |
Because marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, often inhabit waters where commercial fishing occurs, they can become entangled in fishing gear, which may injure or kill them--this is referred to as "incidental take." The 1994 amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) require the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to establish take reduction teams for certain marine mammals to develop measures to reduce their incidental takes. GAO was asked to determine the extent to which NMFS (1) can accurately identify the marine mammal stocks--generally a population of animals of the same species located in a common area--that meet the MMPA's requirements for establishing such teams, (2) has established teams for those stocks that meet the requirements, (3) has met the MMPA's deadlines for the teams subject to them, and (4) evaluates the effectiveness of take reduction regulations. GAO reviewed the MMPA, and NMFS data on marine mammals, and take reduction team documents and obtained the views of NMFS officials, scientists, and take reduction team members. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Note |
"GAO-09-78." |
| Subject |
United States. National Marine Fisheries Service.
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Marine mammals -- Government policy -- United States.
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Whales -- Government policy -- United States.
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Fisheries.
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Marine resources conservation.
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| Added Author |
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources.
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| Added Title |
Improvements are needed in the federal process used to protect marine mammals from commercial fishing |
| Running Title |
Marine mammal protection |
| Gpo Item No. |
0546-D (online) |
| Sudoc No. |
GA 1.13:GAO-09-78 |
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