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This action amended regulations under the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (Plan) to reduce bottlenose dolphin serious injuries and mortalities incidental to the Virginia Pound net fishery. The Plan recommends the year-round use of modified leaders for offshore pound nets within parts of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia coastal waters. Regulations for Virginia Pound Nets are implemented under the Endangered Species Act for sea turtle conservation. The Plan recommended similar regulations to those currently enacted under the Endangered Species Act; however, the regulations under the Plan offer greater conservation benefits to both bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles. Because the regulations may affect current sea turtle regulations, a joint-rulemaking was be conducted under both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act to amend: (1) the Plan under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, proposing Virginia pound net requirements; and (2) current federal sea turtle regulations for Virginia pound nets under the Endangered Species Act to ensure consistency between regulations.