The National Marine Fisheries Service has released a draft Fin Whale Recovery Plan and is seeking public review and comment under a notice published in the Federal Registry.

A recovery plan is required whenever a species is listed as endangered or threatened, under federal law. The fin whale was designated as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1973.

The goal of the plan is to promote actions that would lead to the animals being taken off the endangered species list. The public comment period ends Sept. 5.

A copy of the federal register notice can be found at: a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6 -10558.pdf

A copy of the plan can be found at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ or by contacting Angela Somma, chief, Endangered Species Division, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or by fax at (301) 427-2523.

Comments can be sent by e-mail or regular mail.