Taking or Importing of Marine Mammals: U.S. Navy Training and Testing Activities in the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Study Area

Key Points

• 1The Navy can conduct sonar exercises, explosives testing, and weapons training in Hawaii and Southern California ocean areas for the next five years
• 2The regulation allows some marine mammals to be injured or killed during these activities, with specific limits on how many animals can be harmed
• 3The Navy must use protective measures like marine mammal observers, acoustic monitoring, and restricted training zones to reduce harm to whales, dolphins, and seals
• 4Environmental groups and the public had the chance to comment on this rule before it became final
• 5NOAA (the federal ocean agency) will monitor whether the Navy follows these rules and whether marine populations are actually protected

Key Dates