[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR224.103]

[Page 213-215]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
  CHAPTER II--NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
           ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 224_ENDANGERED MARINE AND ANADROMOUS SPECIES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 224.103  Special prohibitions for endangered marine mammals.

    (a) Approaching humpback whales in Hawaii. Except as provided in 
part 222,

[[Page 214]]

subpart C, of this chapter (General Permit Procedures), 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 the Islands of 
Hawaii, any of the following acts with respect to humpback whales 
(Megaptera novaeangliae):
    (1) Operate any aircraft within 1,000 feet (300 m) of any humpback 
whale;
    (2) Approach, by any means, within 100 yard (90 m) of any humpback 
whale;
    (3) Cause a vessel or other object to approach within 100 yd (90 m) 
of a humpback whale; or
    (4) 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.
    (b) Approaching 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 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, as described in paragraph (a)(4) of this 
section.
    (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 her 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) These regulations shall not take precedence over any more 
restrictive conflicting Federal regulation pertaining to humpback 
whales, including the regulations at 36 CFR 13.65 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 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 U.S.C. 2006 and the International Regulations 
for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (see 33 U.S.C. 1602), with respect 
to

[[Page 215]]

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. The regulatory provisions set forth in part 223 of this 
chapter, which govern threatened Steller sea lions, shall also apply to 
the western population of Steller sea lions, which consists of all 
Steller sea lions from breeding colonies located west of 144[deg] W. 
long.

[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]