§ 216.272 - Permissible methods of taking.

(a) Under Letters of Authorization issued pursuant to §§216.106 and 216.277, the Holder of the Letter of Authorization may incidentally, but not intentionally, take marine mammals within the area described in §216.270(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 §216.270(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 §216.270(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)—110 (an average of 22 annually)

   (B) Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)—870 (an average of 174 annually)

   (C) Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)—3085 (an average of 617 annually)

   (D) Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)—665 (an average of 133 annually)

   (E) Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)—27340 (an average of 5468 annually)

(ii) Odontocetes:

   (A) Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)—775 (an average of 155 annually)

   (B) Pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps)—830 (an average of 166 annually)

   (C) Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)—100 (an average of 20 annually)

   (D) Mesoplodont beaked whales (Blainville's, Hubb's, Perrin's, pygmy, and ginkgo-toothed) (Mesoplodon densirostris, M. carlhubbsi, M. perrini, M. peruvianus, M. ginkgodens)—690 (an average of 138 annually)

   (E) Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris)—2175 (an average of 435 annually)

   (F) Baird's beaked whales (Berardius bairdii)—100 (an average of 20 annually)

   (G) Unidentified beaked whales—555 (an average of 104 annually)

   (H) Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis)—100 (an average of 20 annually)

   (I) Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)—7480 (an average of 1516 annually)

   (J) Pan-tropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata)—100 (an average of 20 annually)

   (K) Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris)—100 (an average of 20 annually)

   (L) Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)—9190 (an average of 1838 annually)

   (M) Long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis)—23145 (an average of 4629 annually)

   (N) Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus)—17995 (an average of 3599 annually)

   (O) Northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis)—7935 (an average of 1547 annually)

   (P) Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)—7020 (an average of 1404 annually)

   (Q) Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)—197350 (an average of 39470 annually)

   (R) Melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra)—100 (an average of 20 annually)

   (S) Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata)—100 (an average of 20 annually)

   (T) False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)—100 (an average of 20 annually)

   (U) Killer whale (Orcinus orca)—70 (an average of 14 annually)

   (V) Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorynchus)—260 (an average of 52 annually)

   (W) Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli)—3145 (an average of 629 annually)

(iii) Pinnipeds:

   (A) Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris)—4795 (an average of 959 annually)

   (B) Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina)—28380 (an average of 5676 annually)

   (C) California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)—277530 (an average of 55506 annually)

   (D) Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus)—6185 (an average of 1237 annually)

   (E) Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi)—5340 (an average of 1068 annually)

(2) Level A Harassment and/or mortality of no more than 10 beaked whales (total), of any of the species listed in §216.272(c)(1)(ii)(D) through (G) over the course of the 5-year regulations.