MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION - Annual Report for 1995 



generation or less. With respect to the bowhead 

 whale, the draft statement concluded that the species 

 most likely would experience temporary, sub-lethal 

 effects. The statement acknowledged that some 

 mortality might result if bowhead whales were ex- 

 posed to freshly spilled oil over a prolonged period; 

 however, the population would be expected to recover 

 within one to three years. 



The Marine Mammal Commission, in consultation 

 with its Committee of Scientific Advisors, reviewed 

 the draft statement and by letter of 20 November 1995 

 provided comments to the Service. The Commission 

 indicated that, while the conclusions concerning the 

 possible effects on marine mammals may be valid, the 

 draft statement did not provide data, analyses, or 

 references to support many of them. 



In its letter, the Commission noted that the draft 

 statement did not provide a thorough summary or 

 assessment of available information on marine mam- 

 mals occurring in the proposed sale area. For in- 

 stance, it provided little information on habitat-use 

 patterns of the species that occur in the Beaufort Sea 

 or information on how these species and their habitats 

 have been affected by previous oil and gas develop- 

 ment and other activities. Further, it did not identify 

 critical uncertainties about the natural history, demog- 

 raphy, and essential habitats and habitat components 

 of marine mammals that could be affected or how 

 they might be affected, both directly and indirectly. 



The Commission further noted that the draft 

 statement did not make it clear that lessees could be 

 required to obtain authorization to take marine mam- 

 mals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act if the 

 proposed development activities affect either marine 

 mammals or their availability to Alaska Natives for 

 subsistence purposes. 



The Commission recommended that the statement 

 be expanded to more fully describe what is being done 

 to meet the monitoring requirements of the Outer 

 Continental Shelf Lands Act and to ensure that lessees 

 are aware of the Marine Mammal Protection Act's 

 prohibition on taking marine mammals and require- 

 ments for obtaining a small-take exemption. 



Oil & Gas Lease Sales #166 and #168, 

 Central and Western Gulf of Mexico 



On 13 June 1995 the Minerals Management Ser- 

 vice published a call for information and nominations 

 and a notice of intent to prepare an environmental 

 impact statement on two proposed oil and gas lease 

 sales in the central and western Gulf of Mexico. 



The Marine Mammal Commission, in consultation 

 with its Committee of Scientific Advisors, responded 

 to the request on 27 July 1995, providing information 

 and comments on factors that should be considered in 

 assessing the possible effects of the proposed action 

 on marine mammals and their habitat. 



In its letter, the Commission noted that at least 30 

 species of marine mammals have been observed or 

 found stranded along the coast of the northern Gulf of 

 Mexico. These species include six endangered whales 

 (right, blue, fin, sei, humpback, and sperm whales) 

 and the endangered West Indian manatee. The marine 

 mammal species most commonly seen in the area is 

 the bottlenose dolphin. The most commonly seen 

 endangered marine mammal species are the West 

 Indian manatee and the sperm whale. 



Based on their status, relative abundance, distribu- 

 tion, behavior, and other factors, the species of great- 

 est concern are manatees, sperm whales and other 

 endangered cetaceans, and bottlenose and spotted 

 dolphins. With respect to manatees, the Commission 

 noted that it is unlikely that manatees will be affected 

 significantly by the proposed activity in the central 

 and western Gulf of Mexico. However, perhaps the 

 greatest risk is that a major oil spill originating within 

 the proposed lease areas could be transported by wind 

 and currents into areas along the west coast of Florida 

 or eastern Mexico where manatees are more common. 

 Therefore, the Commission suggested that the Miner- 

 als Management Service consult with the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service to determine (a) whether consulta- 

 tions should be initiated pursuant to section 7 of the 

 Endangered Species Act to assess the possible direct 

 or indirect effects of the proposed actions on endan- 

 gered manatees, and (b) what additional measures are 

 necessary to assess and avoid the possible adverse 

 impacts of the proposed action on endangered mana- 

 tees in Florida and eastern Mexico. 



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