Approach Regulations for Humpback Whales in Waters Surrounding the Hawaiian Islands Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act
other · hawaii · humpback · Published 2023-12-21 · Effective 2024-01-22 · 88 FR 88262
Document
Document number
2023-28091
Federal Register citation
88 FR 88262
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
other
Region
hawaii
Species
humpback
Publication date
2023-12-21
Effective date
2024-01-22
NOAA docket
Docket No. 231214-0303
Abstract
NMFS issues this final rule "Approach Regulations for Humpback Whales in Waters Surrounding the Islands of Hawaii under the Marine Mammal Protection Act" under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This rule prohibits the "take" of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), which means "to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal," within 200 nautical miles (nmi) (370.4 kilometers (km)) of the islands of Hawaii from the detrimental effects resulting from approach by humans.