Understanding the Potential Biological Removal Level in Marine Law
Definition & Meaning
The potential biological removal level refers to the maximum number of marine mammals that can be removed from a specific population without hindering its ability to recover and maintain a healthy population size. This level is determined by several factors:
- The minimum population estimate of the marine mammal stock.
- Half of the maximum productivity rate of the stock, particularly when the population is small.
- A recovery factor that ranges from 0.1 to 1.0, reflecting the stock's ability to recover from removals.
Legal Use & context
This term is primarily used in the context of marine mammal protection laws, particularly under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It helps guide decisions regarding the sustainable management of marine mammal populations. Legal practitioners may encounter this term when dealing with cases involving wildlife conservation, environmental law, and regulatory compliance. Users can manage related forms and procedures using templates provided by US Legal Forms.
Real-world examples
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
For instance, if a population of a particular marine mammal is estimated to be 1,000 individuals, and the maximum productivity rate is estimated at 0.1, the potential biological removal level would be calculated as follows:
- Minimum population estimate: 1,000
- Productivity rate: 0.1 (or 10 percent)
- Recovery factor: 0.5 (hypothetical example)
Thus, the potential biological removal level would be 1,000 x 0.1 x 0.5 = 50 animals.
Relevant laws & statutes
The primary statute governing the potential biological removal level is the Marine Mammal Protection Act, specifically 16 USCS § 1362. This act establishes guidelines for the conservation and management of marine mammal populations in U.S. waters.