---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1386"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1386"
heading: "Stock assessments"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1386"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — Marine Mammal Protection"
  - "Subchapter II — Conservation and Protection of Marine Mammals"
---

# §1386. Stock assessments

- (a) **In general—** Not later than August 1, 1994, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall, in consultation with the appropriate regional scientific review group established under [subsection (d)](#d), prepare a draft [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) assessment for each [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) which occurs in [waters under the jurisdiction of the United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=15). Each draft [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) assessment, based on the best scientific information available, shall—
  - (1) describe the geographic range of the affected [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11), including any seasonal or temporal variation in such range;
  - (2) provide for such [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) the [minimum population estimate](/usc/16/1362.md?p=27), current and maximum [net productivity rates](/usc/16/1362.md?p=26), and current population trend, including a description of the information upon which these are based;
  - (3) estimate the annual human-caused mortality and serious injury of the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) by source and, for a [strategic stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=19), other factors that may be causing a decline or impeding recovery of the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11), including effects on [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) habitat and prey;
  - (4) describe commercial [fisheries](/usc/16/1362.md?p=16) that interact with the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11), including—
    - (A) the approximate number of vessels actively participating in each such [fishery](/usc/16/1362.md?p=16);
    - (B) the estimated level of incidental mortality and serious injury of the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) by each such [fishery](/usc/16/1362.md?p=16) on an annual basis;
    - (C) seasonal or [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) differences in such incidental mortality or serious injury; and
    - (D) the rate, based on the appropriate standard [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of fishing effort, of such incidental mortality and serious injury, and an analysis stating whether such level is insignificant and is approaching a zero mortality and serious injury rate;
  - (5) categorize the status of the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) as one that either—
    - (A) has a level of human-caused mortality and serious injury that is not likely to cause the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) to be reduced below its [optimum sustainable population](/usc/16/1362.md?p=9); or
    - (B) is a [strategic stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=19), with a description of the reasons therefor; and
  - (6) estimate the [potential biological removal level](/usc/16/1362.md?p=20) for the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11), describing the information used to calculate it, including the recovery factor.
- (b) **Public comment—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the availability of a draft [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) assessment or any revision thereof and provide an opportunity for public review and comment during a period of 90 days. Such notice shall include a summary of the assessment and a list of the sources of information or published reports upon which the assessment is based.
  - (2) Subsequent to the notice of availability required under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), if requested by a [person](/usc/16/1362.md?p=10) to which [section 1371(b) of this title](/usc/16/1371.md?p=b) applies, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall conduct a proceeding on the record prior to publishing a final [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) assessment or any revision thereof for any [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) subject to [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) under [section 1371(b) of this title](/usc/16/1371.md?p=b).
  - (3) After consideration of the best scientific information available, the advice of the appropriate regional scientific review group established under [subsection (d)](#d), and the comments of the general public, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of availability and a summary of the final [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) assessment or any revision thereof, not later than 90 days after—
    - (A) the close of the public comment period on a draft [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) assessment or revision thereof; or
    - (B) final action on an agency proceeding pursuant to [paragraph (2)](#b-2).
- (c) **Review and revision—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall review [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) assessments in accordance with this subsection—
    - (A) at least annually for [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) which are specified as [strategic stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=19);
    - (B) at least annually for [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) for which significant new information is available; and
    - (C) at least once every 3 years for all other [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11).
  - (2) If the review under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) indicates that the status of the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) has changed or can be more accurately determined, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall revise the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) assessment in accordance with [subsection (b)](#b).
- (d) **Regional scientific review groups—**
  - (1) Not later than 60 days after April 30, 1994, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) of Commerce shall, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) of the Interior (with respect to [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) under that [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A)’s jurisdiction), the [Marine Mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), the Governors of affected adjacent coastal [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), regional [fishery](/usc/16/1362.md?p=16) and wildlife [management](/usc/16/1362.md?p=2) authorities, [Alaska Native organizations](/usc/16/1362.md?p=23) and [Indian tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g), and environmental and [fishery](/usc/16/1362.md?p=16) groups, establish three independent regional scientific review groups representing Alaska, the Pacific Coast (including Hawaii), and the Atlantic Coast (including the Gulf of Mexico), consisting of individuals with expertise in [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) biology and ecology, population dynamics and modeling, commercial fishing technology and practices, and [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) taken under [section 1371(b) of this title](/usc/16/1371.md?p=b). The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) of Commerce shall, to the maximum extent practicable, attempt to achieve a balanced representation of viewpoints among the individuals on each regional scientific review group. The regional scientific review groups shall advise the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) on—
    - (A) population estimates and the population status and trends of such [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11);
    - (B) uncertainties and research needed regarding [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11) separation, abundance, or trends, and factors affecting the distribution, size, or productivity of the [stock](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11);
    - (C) uncertainties and research needed regarding the species, number, ages, gender, and reproductive status of [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6);
    - (D) research needed to identify modifications in fishing gear and practices likely to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury of [marine mammals](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) in commercial fishing operations;
    - (E) the actual, expected, or potential impacts of habitat destruction, including marine pollution and natural environmental change, on specific [marine mammal](/usc/16/1362.md?p=6) species or [stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=11), and for [strategic stocks](/usc/16/1362.md?p=19), appropriate [conservation](/usc/16/1362.md?p=2) or [management](/usc/16/1362.md?p=2) measures to alleviate any such impacts; and
    - (F) any other issue which the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) or the groups consider appropriate.
  - (2) The scientific review groups established under this subsection shall not be subject to chapter 10 of title 5.
  - (3) Members of the scientific review groups shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A), upon request, for reasonable travel costs and expenses incurred in performing their obligations.
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) may appoint or reappoint individuals to the regional scientific review groups under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) as needed.
- (e) **Effect on section 1371(b) of this title—** This section shall not affect or otherwise modify the provisions of [section 1371(b) of this title](/usc/16/1371.md?p=b).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–522, title I, § 117, as added Pub. L. 103–238, § 10, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 543; amended Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(108), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4317.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “chapter 10 of title 5.” for “the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 App. U.S.C.).”