SEMINAR: Fwd: Re: MAF Seminar

[Maria Estevanez <mestevanez@rsmas.miami.edu>]

MAF Seminarr
Friday, November 5
10:30 - 11:30 am
Dean's Seminar Room

Guest Speaker:

Candace Nachman
Fishery Biologist
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Office of Protected Resources

Title: The Marine Mammal Protection Act Incidental Take Program: What It Is and Real World Applications

Abstract:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources is responsible for implementing Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which allow for the incidental “take” of marine mammals during activities other than commercial fishing, including oil and gas exploration, research seismic surveys, and military readiness activities.  In order to issue an authorization, NMFS must find that the activity will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) and that there will not be an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses.  Additionally, NMFS sets forth the approved methods of taking and mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements. NMFS uses the best available science to inform our analyses, findings, and agency policy.  NMFS relies on the work of marine mammal researchers for much of this information and have identified several critical datagaps.  This presentation will discuss the following:  1) An overview of the MMPA incidental take authorization process including the differences between Letters of Authorization and Incidental Harassment Authorizations and the interaction with the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act processes; 2) A discussion of mitigation and monitoring requirements and some common examples; 3) Real world applications of this process; and 4) Areas where additional scientific studies could help inform NMFS’ analyses. The speaker will also share her experience during the bowhead whale census in Barrow, Alaska this past Spring.

About the Speaker:

Candace Nachman was a student in UM's five-year MAF program from 1999-2004.  After graduation, she returned to her home in Washington, DC, where she completed a four month internship with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Committee on Economics and Social Science.  In January 2005, Candace began working as an intern in the NOAA National Ocean Service's Office of Coastal Survey on the Maritime Boundaries Project.  In October 2006, she began working as a fishery biologist in the NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources.