"This document represents the NMFS' biological opinion (Opinion) of the effects of the proposed research on the threatened Steller sea lion and loggerhead sea turtle, the endangered olive ridley, green!, leatherback, and hawksbill sea turtles and bowhead, sei, blue, fin, southern right, North Pacific right, humpback, sperm, and Southern Resident killer whales, and these species' designated critical habitat, as has been prepared in accordance with Section 7 of the ESA. This Opinion is based on our review of the Permits, Conservation, and Education Division's draft Environmental Assessment, draft permit 14097, the permit application from NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, annual reports of past research completed by the applicant, the most current marine mammal stock assessment reports, recovery plans for listed species, scientific and technical reports from government agencies, peer-reviewed literature, biological opinions on similar research, and other sources of information"--Page [2]. [doi:10.7289/V5Z60M3N (https://doi.org/10.7289/V5Z60M3N)].

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)