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NMFS would develop methods to assess the status of marine 

 mammal populations on a long-term basis. Long-term monitoring of 

 populations is needed to ensure that marine mammals remain within 

 OSP or continue their recovery. 



Monitoring Removals 



Under the proposal, NMFS would have the authority to place 

 observers on vessels in any commercial fishery operating in U.S. 

 waters, whether the vessel is operating in a fishery that has a 

 history of interaction with marine mammals or in one of the 

 fisheries designated as "non-takers." Observer coverage would be 

 greatest in fisheries with significant interactions with depleted 

 or potentially declining stocks; priorities for observer coverage 

 would decrease for fisheries as their level of interaction, and 

 the status of interacting marine mammals, decreased. Fishermen 

 in those fisheries not subject to observer coverage would be 

 required to maintain information concerning fishing effort and 

 interactions with marine mammals and to submit this information 

 to NMFS. The fishermen's records would be used to augment 

 observer coverage as a means to monitor interactions with marine 

 mammals. 



Depleted, Threatened, and Endangered Species 



The proposal contains provisions to authorize the taking of 

 depleted marine mammals, including those listed as threatened or 

 endangered under the ESA. Procedures for this authorization 



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