(a) Regulations in this subpart apply only to the incidental taking of marine mammals during seabird research activities by Point Blue Conservation Science (Point Blue) and those persons it authorizes or funds to conduct activities on its behalf in the areas outlined in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) The incidental taking of marine mammals by Point Blue may only occur in California on Southeast Farallon Island, Año Nuevo Island, and Point Reyes National Seashore in accordance with a Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued under §§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.126.

Regulations in this subpart are effective from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2026.

Under LOAs issued pursuant to §§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.126, the Holder of the LOA (hereinafter “Point Blue”) may incidentally, but not intentionally, take marine mammals within the area described in § 217.120(b) by Level B harassment associated with seabird research activities, provided the activity is in compliance with all terms, conditions, and requirements of the regulations in this subpart and the appropriate LOA.

Except for the takings contemplated in § 217.120 and authorized by a LOA issued under §§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.126, it is unlawful for any person to do any of the following in connection with the activities described in § 217.120 may:

(a) Violate, or fail to comply with, the terms, conditions, and requirements of this subpart or a LOA issued under §§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.126;

(b) Take any marine mammal not specified in such LOA;

(c) Take any marine mammal specified in such LOA in any manner other than as specified in § 217.122;

(d) Take a marine mammal specified in such LOA if NMFS determines such taking results in more than a negligible impact on the species or stocks of such marine mammal; or

(e) Take a marine mammal specified in such LOA if NMFS determines such taking results in an unmitigable adverse impact on the species or stock of such marine mammal for taking for subsistence uses.

When conducting the activities identified in § 217.120(a), the mitigation measures contained in any LOA issued under §§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.126 must be implemented. These mitigation measures shall include but are not limited to the following general conditions:

(a) All persons must slowly approach beaches for boat landings. Boat landings must avoid causing stampede and provide marine mammals with an opportunity to safely enter the water. Vessel strikes are prohibited.

(b) All persons must observe a site from a distance, using binoculars if necessary, to detect any marine mammals prior to approach to determine if mitigation is required (i.e., if pinnipeds are present, researchers must approach with caution, walking slowly, quietly, and close to the ground to avoid surprising any hauled-out marine mammals and to reduce flushing/stampeding of individuals).

(c) All persons must avoid pinnipeds along access ways to sites by locating and taking a different access way. Researchers must keep a safe distance from and not approach any marine mammal while conducting research, unless it is absolutely necessary to flush a marine mammal in order to continue conducting research (i.e., if a site cannot be accessed or sampled due to the presence of pinnipeds).

(d) All persons must avoid visits to sites when pups are present, if the number of takes that have been authorized are met, or if species for which authorization has not been granted are present.

(e) All persons must monitor for offshore predators and must not approach hauled out pinnipeds if great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) or killer whales (Orcinus orca) are observed to be present. If Point Blue and/or its designees see pinniped predators in the area, they must not disturb the pinnipeds until the lead biologist determines the area is free of predators based on best professional judgment.

(f) All persons must keep voices hushed and bodies low to the ground in the visual presence of pinnipeds.

(g) All persons must conduct seabird observations at North Landing on Southeast Farallon Island in an observation blind, shielded from the view of hauled out pinnipeds.

(h) All persons must crawl slowly to access seabird nest boxes on Año Nuevo Island if pinnipeds are within view.

(i) Researchers must coordinate research visits to intertidal areas of Southeast Farallon Island and coordinate research activities for Año Nuevo Island to minimize the number of trips to these areas.

(a) Visual monitoring. When conducting activities under an LOA, Point Blue must conduct a visual monitoring program and record information as required by the LOA and this subpart.

(1) Standard information recorded must include species counts (with age/sex classes noted when possible) of animals present before approaching, numbers of observed disturbances, and descriptions of the disturbance behaviors during the monitoring surveys, including location, date, and time of the event.

(2) The lead biologist must serve as an observer to record incidental take.

(3) The lead biologist must record the following:

(i) The date, time, and location (or closest point of ingress) of each visit to the research site;

(ii) Composition of the marine mammals sighted, such as species, sex, and life history stage (e.g., adult, sub-adult, pup);

(iii) The number (by species) of marine mammals observed during the activities;

(iv) Estimated number of marine mammals (by species) that may have been disturbed during the activities, using a three-point scale of disturbance contained in an LOA issued under §§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.126. Disturbance Levels 2 and 3 must be recorded as takes;

(v) Behavioral responses or modifications in behaviors that may be attributed to the specific activities and a description of the specific activities occurring during that time (e.g., pedestrian approach, vessel approach);

(vi) Information on the weather, including the tidal state and horizontal visibility; and

(vii) If applicable, note the presence of any offshore predators (date, time, number, and species).

(4) Point Blue must report observations of unusual behaviors, numbers, or distributions of pinnipeds, or of tag-bearing carcasses, to the NMFS West Coast Regional Office.

(b) Prohibited take. (1) In the event that personnel discovers an injured or dead marine mammal, Point Blue shall report the incident to the Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, and the West Coast Regional Stranding Coordinator, NMFS as soon as feasible. If the death or injury was caused by Point Blue's activities, Point Blue must immediately cease activities conducted under its LOA until NMFS is able to review the circumstances of the incident and determine what, if any, additional measures are appropriate to ensure compliance with the terms of the LOA. Point Blue must not resume their activities until notified by NMFS. The report must include the following information:

(i) Time, date, and location (latitude/longitude) of the first discovery (and updated location information if known and applicable);

(ii) Species identification (if known) or description of the animal(s) involved;

(iii) Condition of the animal(s) (including carcass condition if the animal is dead);

(iv) Observed behaviors of the animal(s), if alive;

(v) If available, photographs or video footage of the animal(s); and

(vi) General circumstances under which the animal was discovered.

(c) Annual report. (1) A draft annual report covering the period of January 1 through December 31 of each year must be submitted to NMFS Office of Protected Resources by April 1 of each year. The final annual report after year five may be included as part of the final report (see below). The report must include the information gathered pursuant to the monitoring requirements set forth above and in the LOA at minimum, and must also include raw sightings data.

(2) A final annual report must be submitted to the Director of the NMFS Office of Protected Resources within 30 days after receiving comments from NMFS on the draft annual report. If no comments are received from NMFS, the draft annual report will be considered the final report.

(d) Final report. A draft final report must be submitted to NMFS Office of Protected Resources within 60 days after the conclusion of the fifth year. A final report must be submitted to the Director of the NMFS Office of Protected Resources within 30 days after receiving comments from NMFS on the draft final report. If no comments are received from NMFS, the draft final report will be considered the final report.

(a) To incidentally take marine mammals pursuant to these regulations, Point Blue must apply for and obtain an LOA.

(b) An LOA, unless suspended or revoked, may be effective for a period of time not to exceed the expiration date of these regulations.

(c) If an LOA expires prior to the expiration date of these regulations, Point Blue may apply for and obtain a renewal of the LOA.

(d) In the event of projected changes to the activity or to mitigation and monitoring measures required by an LOA, Point Blue must apply for and obtain a modification of the LOA as described in § 217.127.

(e) The LOA shall set forth:

(1) Permissible methods and numbers of incidental taking;

(2) Means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact (i.e., mitigation) on the species, its habitat, and on the availability of the species for subsistence uses; and

(3) Requirements for monitoring and reporting.

(f) Issuance of the LOA shall be based on a determination that the level of taking will be consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under these regulations.

(g) Notice of issuance or denial of an LOA shall be published in the Federal Register within thirty days of a determination.

(a) An LOA issued under §§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.126 for the activity identified in § 217.120(a) shall be renewed or modified upon request by the applicant, provided that:

(1) The proposed specified activity and mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures, as well as the anticipated impacts, are the same as those described and analyzed for these regulations (excluding changes made pursuant to the adaptive management provision in paragraph (c)(1) of this section), and

(2) NMFS' Office of Protected Resources determines that the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures required by the previous LOA under these regulations were implemented.

(b) For an LOA modification or renewal requests by the applicant that includes changes to the activity or the mitigation, monitoring, or reporting (excluding changes made pursuant to the adaptive management provision in paragraph (c)(1) of this section) that do not change the findings made for the regulations or result in no more than a minor change in the total estimated number of takes (or distribution by species or years), NMFS' Office of Protected Resources may publish a notice of proposed LOA in the Federal Register, including the associated analysis of the change, and solicit public comment before issuing the LOA.

(c) An LOA issued under §§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.126 for the activity identified in § 217.120(a) may be modified by NMFS' Office of Protected Resources under the following circumstances:

(1) Adaptive management—NMFS' Office of Protected Resources may modify (including augment) the existing mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures (after consulting with Point Blue regarding the practicability of the modifications) if doing so creates a reasonable likelihood of more effectively accomplishing the goals of the mitigation and monitoring set forth in the preamble for these regulations.

(i) Possible sources of data that could contribute to the decision to modify the mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures in an LOA include:

(A) Results from Point Blue's monitoring from the previous year(s);

(B) Results from other marine mammal and/or sound research or studies; and

(C) Any information that reveals marine mammals may have been taken in a manner, extent or number not authorized by these regulations or subsequent LOAs.

(ii) If, through adaptive management, the modifications to the mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures are substantial, NMFS' Office of Protected Resources will publish a notice of proposed LOA in the Federal Register and solicit public comment.

(2) Emergencies. If NMFS' Office of Protected Resources determines that an emergency exists that poses a significant risk to the well-being of the species or stocks of marine mammals specified in LOAs issued pursuant to §§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.126, an LOA may be modified without prior notice or opportunity for public comment. Notice would be published in the Federal Register within thirty days of the action.