The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) section 101(a)(4)(A) allows for private citizens to employ measures to deter marine mammals from damaging fishing gear and catch, damaging personal or public property, or endangering personal safety, as long as these measures do not result in death or serious injury of marine mammals. The MMPA also directs the Secretary of Commerce, through NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), to develop national guidelines on safely deterring marine mammals under NOAA’s jurisdiction (e.g., whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions). To inform development of these national guidelines, NMFS published this notice in the Federal Register to request input on which deterrents the public would like NMFS to evaluate and consider for approval (Click here to download the Federal Notice). The comment period is open for 30 days, until January 15, 2015.  Please submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0146.