Taking of Marine Mammals incedental to EROS

Today, the NMFS issued a one-year Letter of Authorization (LOA) to undisclosed applicants to take marine mammals incidental to the explosive removal of offshore oil and gas structures (EROS) in the Gulf of Mexico. This authorization is effective from June 17, 2009 through June 16, 2010 and it permits the applicant to take bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), Clymene dolphins (Stenella clymene), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), melonheaded whales (Peponocephala electra), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in small numbers during EROS activities. A similar LOA was issued to Exxon Mobil in April of 2009.