§ 216.172 - Permissible methods of taking.

(a) Under Letters of Authorization issued pursuant to §§216.106 and 216.177, the Holder of the Letter of Authorization may incidentally, but not intentionally, take marine mammals within the area described in §216.170(b), provided the activity is in compliance with all terms, conditions, and requirements of these regulations and the appropriate Letter of Authorization.

(b) The activities identified in §216.170(c) must be conducted in a manner that minimizes, to the greatest extent practicable, any adverse impacts on marine mammals and their habitat.

(c) The incidental take of marine mammals under the activities identified in §216.170(c) is limited to the following species, by the indicated method of take and the indicated number of times:

(1) Level B Harassment (±10 percent of the number of takes indicated below):

(i) Mysticetes:

(A) Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)—49470 (an average of 9894 annually).

(B) Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)—320 (an average of 64 annually).

(C) Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)—230 (an average of 46 annually).

(D) Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)—230 (an average of 46 annually).

(E) Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni)—320 (an average of 64 annually).

(ii) Odontocetes:

(A) Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)—3905 (an average of 781 annually).

(B) Pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps)—4325 (an average of 865 annually).

(C) Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)—10610 (an average of 2122 annually).

(D) Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris)—5750 (an average of 1150 annually).

(E) Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris)—1785 (an average of 357 annually).

(F) Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus)—525 (an average of 105 annually).

(G) Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis)—5385 (an average of 1077 annually).

(H) Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)—3670 (an average of 734 annually).

(I) Pan-tropical dolphins (Stenella attenuata)—10995 (an average of 2199 annually).

(J) Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris)—2105 (an average of 421 annually).

(K) Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba)—16045 (an average of 3209 annually).

(L) Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus)—2485 (an average of 497 annually).

(M) Melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra)—2985 (an average of 597 annually).

(N) Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei)—6235 (an average of 1247 annually).

(O) Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata)—980 (an average of 196 annually).

(P) False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)—230 (an average of 46 annually).

(Q) Killer whale (Orcinus orca)—230 (an average of 46 annually).

(R) Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorynchus)—8990 (an average of 1798 annually).

(iii) Pinnipeds: Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi)—550 (an average of 110 annually).

(2) Level A Harassment and/or mortality of no more than 10 individuals total of each of the species listed below over the course of the 5-year regulations: Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Pygmy and Dwarf sperm whales (Kogia breviceps and sima), Melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata), Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorynchus), Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), and Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Blainville's beaked whale, (Mesoplodon densirostris), Longman's beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus).