Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?mc=true&node=se50.10.224_1103&rgn=div8
Timestamp: 2019-12-06 22:01:48
Document Index: 132844874

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 224', '§224', '§224', 'art 222', 'art 222', '§224']

Title 50 → Chapter II → Subchapter C → Part 224 → §224.103
§224.103 Special prohibitions for endangered marine mammals.
(b) Approaching endangered humpback whales in Alaska—(1) Prohibitions. Except as provided under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, it is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to commit, to attempt to commit, to solicit another to commit, or to cause to be committed, within 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) of Alaska, or within inland waters of the state, any of the acts in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (b)(1)(iii) of this section with respect to endangered humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae):
(i) Approach, by any means, including by interception (i.e., placing a vessel in the path of an oncoming humpback whale so that the whale surfaces within 100 yards (91.4 m) of the vessel), within 100 yards (91.4 m) of any humpback whale;
(ii) Cause a vessel or other object to approach within 100 yards (91.4 m) of a humpback whale; or
(iii) Disrupt the normal behavior or prior activity of a whale by any other act or omission. A disruption of normal behavior may be manifested by, among other actions on the part of the whale, a rapid change in direction or speed; escape tactics such as prolonged diving, underwater course changes, underwater exhalation, or evasive swimming patterns; interruptions of breeding, nursing, or resting activities, attempts by a whale to shield a calf from a vessel or human observer by tail swishing or by other protective movement; or the abandonment of a previously frequented area.
(2) Exceptions. The following exceptions apply to this paragraph (b), but any person who claims the applicability of an exception has the burden of proving that the exception applies:
(i) Paragraph (b)(1) of this section does not apply if an approach is authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service through a permit issued under part 222, subpart C, of this chapter (General Permit Procedures) or through a similar authorization.
(ii) Paragraph (b)(1) of this section does not apply to the extent that a vessel is restricted in its ability to maneuver and, because of the restriction, cannot comply with paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(iii) Paragraph (b)(1) of this section does not apply to commercial fishing vessels lawfully engaged in actively setting, retrieving or closely tending commercial fishing gear. For purposes of this paragraph (b), commercial fishing means taking or harvesting fish or fishery resources to sell, barter, or trade. Commercial fishing does not include commercial passenger fishing operations (i.e. charter operations or sport fishing activities).
(iv) Paragraph (b)(1) of this section does not apply to state, local, or Federal government vessels operating in the course of official duty.
(v) Paragraph (b)(1) of this section does not affect the rights of Alaska Natives under 16 U.S.C. 1539(e).
(vi) Paragraph (b) of this section shall not take precedence over any more restrictive conflicting Federal regulation pertaining to humpback whales, including the regulations at 36 CFR 13.1102-13.1188 that pertain specifically to the waters of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
(3) General measures. Notwithstanding the prohibitions and exceptions in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section, to avoid collisions with endangered humpback whales, vessels must operate at a slow, safe speed when near a humpback whale. “Safe speed” has the same meaning as the term is defined in 33 CFR 83.06 and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (see 33 U.S.C. 1602) with respect to avoiding collisions with humpback whales.
(c) Approaching right whales—(1) Prohibitions. Except as provided under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, it is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to commit, attempt to commit, to solicit another to commit, or cause to be committed any of the following acts:
(i) Approach (including by interception) within 500 yards (460 m) of a right whale by vessel, aircraft, or any other means;
(ii) Fail to undertake required right whale avoidance measures specified under paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
(2) Right whale avoidance measures. Except as provided under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the following avoidance measures must be taken if within 500 yards (460 m) of a right whale:
(i) If underway, a vessel must steer a course away from the right whale and immediately leave the area at a slow safe speed.
(ii) An aircraft must take a course away from the right whale and immediately leave the area at a constant airspeed.
(3) Exceptions. The following exceptions apply to this section, but any person who claims the applicability of an exception has the burden of proving that the exception applies:
(i) Paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section do not apply if a right whale approach is authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service through a permit issued under part 222, subpart C, of this chapter (General Permit Procedures) or through a similar authorization.
(ii) Paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section do not apply where compliance would create an imminent and serious threat to a person, vessel, or aircraft.
(iii) Paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section do not apply when approaching to investigate a right whale entanglement or injury, or to assist in the disentanglement or rescue of a right whale, provided that permission is received from the National Marine Fisheries Service or designee prior to the approach.
(iv) Paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section do not apply to an aircraft unless the aircraft is conducting whale watch activities.
(v) Paragraph (c)(2) of this section does not apply to the extent that a vessel is restricted in her ability to maneuver and, because of the restriction, cannot comply with paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
(d) Special prohibitions relating to endangered Steller sea lion protection—(1) General Prohibitions. The following regulatory provisions shall apply to the western population of Steller sea lions:
(B) No person may approach on land not privately owned within one-half statutory mile (0.8 kilometers) or within sight of a Steller sea lion rookery site listed in paragraph (d)(1)(iii) of this section, whichever is greater, except on Marmot Island; and
Table 1 to §224.103—Listed Steller Sea Lion Rookery Sites1
1. Outer I. 59°20.5 N 150°23.0 W 59°21.0 N 150°24.5 W 16681 S quadrant.
2. Sugarloaf I. 58°53.0 N 152°02.0 W 16580 Whole island.
3. Marmot I. 58°14.5 N 151°47.5 W 58°10.0 N 151°51.0 W 16580 SE quadrant.
4. Chirikof I. 55°46.5 N 155°39.5 W 55°46.5 N 155°43.0 W 16580 S quadrant.
5. Chowiet I. 56°00.5 N 156°41.5 W 56°00.5 N 156°42.0 W 16013 S quadrant.
6. Atkins I. 55°03.5 N 159°18.5 W 16540 Whole island.
7. Chernabura I. 54°47.5 N 159°31.0 W 54°45.5 N 159°33.5 W 16540 SE corner.
11. Ugamak I. 54°14.0 N 164°48.0 W 54°13.0 N 164°48.0 W 16520 E end of island.
12. Akun I. 54°18.0 N 165°32.5 W 54°18.0 N 165°31.5 W 16547 Billings Head Bight.
13. Akutan I. 54°03.5 N 166°00.0 W 54°05.5 N 166°05.0 W 16520 SW corner, Cape Morgan.
14. Bogoslof I. 53°56.0 N 168°02.0 W 16500 Whole island.
15. Ogchul I. 53°00.0 N 168°24.0 W 16500 Whole island.
16. Adugak I. 52°55.0 N 169°10.5 W 16500 Whole island.
17. Yunaska I. 52°42.0 N 170°38.5 W 52°41.0 N 170°34.5 W 16500 NE end.
18. Seguam I. 52°21.0 N 172°35.0 W 52°21.0 N 172°33.0 W 16480 N coast, Saddleridge Pt.
19. Agligadak I. 52°06.5 N 172°54.0 W 16480 Whole island.
20. Kasatochi I. 52°10.0 N 175°31.5 W 52°10.5 N 175°29.0 W 16480 N half of island.
21. Adak I. 51°36.5 N 176°59.0 W 51°38.0 N 176°59.5 W 16460 SW Point, Lake Point.
23. Tag I. 51°33.5 N 178°34.5 W 16460 Whole island.
24. Ulak I. 51°20.0 N 178°57.0 W 51°18.5 N 178°59.5 W 16460 SE corner, Hasgox Pt.
26. Amchitka I. 51°22.5 N 179°28.0 E 51°21.5 N 179°25.0 E 16440 East Cape.
27. Amchitka I. 51°32.5 N 178°49.5 E 16440 Column Rocks.
28. Ayugadak Pt. 51°45.5 N 178°24.5 E 16440 SE coast of Rat Island.
29. Kiska I. 51°57.5 N 177°21.0 E 51°56.5 N 177°20.0 E 16440 W central, Lief Cove.
30. Kiska I. 51°52.5 N 177°13.0 E 51°53.5 N 177°12.0 E 16440 Cape St. Stephen.
31. Walrus I. 57°11.0 N 169°56.0 W 16380 Whole island.
32. Buldir I. 52°20.5 N 175°57.0 E 52°23.5 N 175°51.0 E 16420 Se point to NW point.
33. Agattu I. 52°24.0 N 173°21.5 E 16420 Gillion Point.
34. Agattu I. 52°23.5 N 173°43.5 E 52°22.0 N 173°41.0 E 16420 Cape Sabak.
35. Attu I. 52°54.5 N 172°28.5 E 52°57.5 N 172°31.5 E 16681 S Quadrant.
1Each site extends in a clockwise direction from the first set of geographic coordinates along the shoreline at mean lower low water to the second set of coordinates; or, if only one set of geographic coordinates is listed, the site extends around the entire shoreline of the island at mean lower low water.
(v) Exemptions. Paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section does not apply to any activity authorized by a prior written exemption from the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries Service. Concurrently with the issuance of any exemption, the Assistant Administrator will publish notice of the exemption in the Federal Register. An exemption may be granted only if the activity will not have a significant adverse effect on Steller sea lions, the activity has been conducted historically or traditionally in the buffer zones, and there is no readily available and acceptable alternative to or site for the activity.
[64 FR 14066, Mar. 23, 1999, as amended at 66 FR 29509, May 31, 2001; 69 FR 69537, Nov. 30, 2004; 70 FR 1832, Jan. 11, 2005; 76 FR 20890, Apr. 14, 2011; 78 FR 66169, Nov. 4, 2013; 81 FR 62021, 62320, Sept. 8, 2016]