3.10 Marine Species
• Ingestion of marine debris —Marine species may ingest a variety of potentially harmful debris materials, including plastic bags, balloons, styrofoam, and tar balls. Efects of debris ingestion can include obstructions of the gut, absorption of toxic byproducts, and reduced absorption of nutrients. • Poaching —Illegal harvest of marine species has declined considerably since the devel- opment and enforcement of protection regulation; however, arrests are still made for illegal capture and possession of marine species. • Noise —Te impacts of noise from shipping, industrial, or military activities on the com- munication, behavior, and distribution of whales and other marine species remains unknown, but is suspected to be signifcant. 3.10.8 Additional Information Recovery plans are available, or are in development, for the following federally listed spe- cies that can inhabit North Carolina coastal or ofshore waters and can be accessed online (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm):
• Green Sea Turtle
• Leatherback Sea Turtle
• Loggerhead Sea Turtle
• Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
• Hawksbill Sea Turtle
• Shortnose Sturgeon
• Right Whale
• Humpback Whale
• Fin/Sei Whale ( draft )
• Sperm Whale ( in development )
Take reduction teams (TRTs) have been formed and convened with the purpose of devel- oping take reduction plans to assist in the recovery or to prevent the depletion of strategic marine mammal stocks that interact with various commercial fsheries. A strategic stock is one which is listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA, is declining and likely to be listed as threatened under the ESA, is listed as depleted under the MMPA, or has direct
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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