Notice2021-22103
Endangered Species; File Nos. 25870, 19641, 20528, 23200, and 25864
Primary source
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Published
October 12, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that four applicants have applied in due form for permits or permit modifications for scientific research to take Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and shortnose (A. brevirostrum) sturgeon, and one researcher has applied for a permit to take smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) for purposes of scientific research.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 194 (Tuesday, October 12, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56692-56693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22103]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB500]
Endangered Species; File Nos. 25870, 19641, 20528, 23200, and
25864
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for permits and permit
modifications.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that four applicants have applied in
due form for permits or permit modifications for scientific research to
take Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and shortnose (A. brevirostrum)
sturgeon, and one researcher has applied for a permit to take
smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) for purposes of scientific
research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before November 12, 2021.
ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species
(APPS) home page, <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov</a>, and then selecting the
appropriate File No. from the list of available applications. These
documents are also available upon written request via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d997949f8af789abe89ab6b4b4bcb7adaa99b7b6b8b8f7beb6af"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ade3e0ebfe83fddf9ceec2c0c0c8c3d9deedc3c2cccc83cac2db">[email protected]</span></a>.
Written comments on this application should be submitted via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#84cac9c2d7aad4f6b5c7ebe9e9e1eaf0f7c4eaebe5e5aae3ebf2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f8b6b5beabd6a88ac9bb9795959d968c8bb896979999d69f978e">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include the appropriate File No.
25870, 19641-05, 20528-08, 23200-04, and 25864 in the subject line of
the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
similar written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dd93909b8ef38dafec9eb2b0b0b8b3a9ae9db3b2bcbcf3bab2ab"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="46080b00156816347705292b2b23283235062829272768212930">[email protected]</span></a>. The
request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on the
requested application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, (301)
427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits and permit modifications
are requested under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the regulations
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and
threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
File No. 25870: Harold M. Brundage, Environmental Research and
Consulting, Inc., 325 Market Street, Lewes, DE 19958, requests a permit
to conduct scientific research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in
freshwater and estuary areas of the Delaware River. Research objectives
include study of abundance, recruitment, temporal-spatial
distributions, reproduction, and habitat use in the lower non-tidal
Delaware River, tidal Delaware River, and Delaware Bay. Up to 100
adult/sub-adult and 230 juvenile shortnose sturgeon and 100 adult/sub-
adult and 230 juvenile Atlantic sturgeon would be captured by gill net
or trawl, measured, weighed, biologically sampled (tissue), marked
(passive integrated transponder (PIT) and Floy/T-bar tags), and
photographed/videoed, annually, prior to release. Sub-sets of Atlantic
and shortnose sturgeon may be anesthetized and implanted with acoustic
transmitters or tethered in a nylon sock for hydro-acoustic testing.
The researcher anticipates a total of one incidental mortality of each
sturgeon species annually. The permit would be valid for up to 10 years
from the date of issuance.
File No. 19641-05: The Connecticut Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection (Tom Savoy, Responsible Party), P.O. Box 719,
Old Lyme, CT 06371, requests a modification to Permit No. 19641-02. The
subject modification to Permit No. 19641-02, issued on June 16, 2020
(85 FR 43820; July 20, 2020) authorizes researchers to determine the
presence, status, health, habitat use, and movements of adult, sub-
adult, and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the Connecticut
River. Researchers may capture sturgeon using gill nets and trawls,
measure, weigh, PIT tag, tissue sample, anesthetize, acoustically tag,
fin ray sample, gastric lavage, and photograph individuals prior to
release. Early life stages (ELS) of both Atlantic and shortnose
sturgeon may be lethally sampled to document the occurrence of spawning
in the river. During research activities, unintentional mortality of up
to one juvenile and adult/sub-adult life stage of each species may
occur, annually. Due to an rapidly expanding population of shortnose
sturgeon documented in the Connecticut River, the Permit Holder
requests authorization to increase take numbers authorized for capture
and recapture (i.e., from 500 to 1,000) of adult and sub-adult
shortnose sturgeon, annually. The permit is valid through March 31,
2027.
File No. 20528-08: The South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources (Responsible Party: Bill Post), 217 Fort Johnson Road,
Charleston, SC 29412, proposes to modify Permit No. 20528-02. The
subject modification to Permit No. 20528-02, issued on May 28, 2020 (85
FR 35637; June 11, 2020), authorizes researchers to conduct research on
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to determine their presence, status,
health, habitat use, and movements in South Carolina waters.
Researchers may use gill nets to capture Atlantic and shortnose
sturgeon to measure, weigh, PIT tag, tissue sample, acoustically tag,
fin ray sample, gonad biopsy, and photograph prior to release. Early
life stages of each species may be lethally sampled to document
occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to two sturgeon of each species
may unintentionally die annually during sampling activities. The permit
holder requests authorization to (1) add the objective to perform
enhancement activities that include the capture and transport of 20
adult shortnose sturgeon from the Cooper River to the Santee River,
annually; (2) increase the number of adult/subadult shortnose sturgeon
for capture, mark (dart, PIT), biologically sample (tissue), measure,
and weigh from 35 to 200 annually in the Cooper River; (3) increase the
annual number of adult/subadult and juvenile Atlantic sturgeon from 20
to 100 and 60 to 150, respectively, for capture, mark (dart, PIT),
biologically sample(tissue), measure, and weigh in the Santee River;
(4) increase the annual number of adult/subadult and juvenile shortnose
sturgeon from 15 to 200 and 15 to 150, respectively, for capture, mark
(dart, PIT), biologically sample(tissue), measure, and weigh in the
Santee River; (5) increase the annual number of adult/subadult and
juvenile shortnose sturgeon from 75 to 200 and 5 to 150, respectively,
for capture, mark (PIT), biologically sample(tissue), measure, and
weigh in Lakes Moultrie and Marion and associated tributaries; and (6)
increase the annual number of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon for capture,
anesthetize, acoustically tag, biologically sample (tissue), weigh,
measure, and photograph/video from 10 to 20, annually, in the Winyah
Bay system. The permit is valid through March 31, 2027.
File No. 23200-04: The University of North Carolina, Wilmington
[[Page 56693]]
(Responsible Party: Frederick Scharf, Ph.D.), 601 South College Road,
Wilmington, NC 28403, proposes to modify Permit No. 23200. The permit,
originally issued on January 31, 2020 (85 FR 7978; February 12, 2020),
authorizes researchers to conduct scientific research on adult, sub-
adult, and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to determine their
abundance, distribution, habitat use, and migration dynamics in the
coastal rivers and estuaries of North Carolina basins (Cape Fear,
Neuse, Tar/Pamlico, Roanoke/Chowan). Researchers may capture Atlantic
and shortnose sturgeon using gill nets, trammel nets, or trawls,
measure, weigh, mark (PIT, Floy), biologically sample (tissue),
anesthetize, acoustically tag, and photograph/video sturgeon prior to
release. The permit holder requests authorization to (1) increase the
number of adult/subadult Atlantic sturgeon for capture, anesthetize,
acoustically tag, mark (PIT, Floy), biologically sample (tissue),
measure, weigh, and photograph/video from 20 to 40, annually, in the
Cape Fear, Neuse, and Tar/Pamlico River systems, and (2) conduct
sampling of Atlantic sturgeon ELS using egg mats and collect up to 100
ELS annually in each authorized system. The permit is valid through
January 25, 2025.
File No. 25864: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (Responsible Party, Gregg Poulakis, Ph.D.), Fish and
Wildlife Research Institute, 585 Prineville Street, Port Charlotte, FL
33954, requests a permit to take smalltooth sawfish (U.S. Distinct
Population Segment) in Florida waters and elsewhere within the species'
range. The applicant is proposing to conduct studies, monitoring
smalltooth sawfish to develop conservation and protective measures and
ensure the species' recovery. Researchers are requesting to capture
adult and sub-adult and juvenile animals and then measure, weigh, tag
(i.e., internal or external acoustic, satellite, archival, PIT, and
rototag), sample (i.e., genetic, blood, muscle biopsy), and photograph
prior to release. The applicant also requests to have access to
salvaged animals and parts taken throughout the species range and to
import and export parts and samples for analysis, archival and future
study. The permit would be valid for 10 years from the date of
issuance.
Dated: October 6, 2021.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-22103 Filed 10-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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