Notice2024-00450
Marine Mammals; File No. 27099
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 11, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that Pacific Whale Foundation (Responsible Party: Jens Curie), 300 Ma'alaea Rd. Ste. 211, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 27099.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 8 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 8 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1908-1909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00450]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD589]
Marine Mammals; File No. 27099
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Pacific Whale Foundation
(Responsible Party: Jens Curie), 300 Ma'alaea Rd. Ste. 211, Wailuku,
Hawaii 96793, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research
Permit No. 27099.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 12,
2024.
ADDRESSES: The application 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 File
No. 27099 from the list of available applications. These documents are
also available upon written request via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1f5152594c314f6d2e5c7072727a716b6c5f71707e7e31787069"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="92dcdfd4c1bcc2e0a3d1fdfffff7fce6e1d2fcfdf3f3bcf5fde4">[email protected]</span></a>.
Written comments on this application should be submitted via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#36787b70651866440775595b5b53584245765859575718515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="145a5952473a446625577b7979717a6067547a7b75753a737b62">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 27099 in the
subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#430d0e05106d133172002c2e2e262d3730032d2c22226d242c35"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="440a0902176a143675072b2929212a3037042a2b25256a232b32">[email protected]</span></a>. The request
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application
would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Courtney Smith, Ph.D., or Erin Markin,
Ph.D., (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 27099 is
requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing
the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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).
Permit No. 27099, issued on April 28, 2023 (88 FR 31737, May 18,
2023), authorizes the permit holder to harass up to 1200 of the
following cetaceans species, annually, during vessel, underwater, and
unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) surveys within waters of the Main
Hawaiian Islands: Blainville's beaked (Mesoplodon densirostris),
Bryde's (Balaenoptera brydei), Cuvier's beaked (Ziphius cavirostris),
dwarf sperm (Kogia sima), false killer (Pseudorca crassidens; including
the endangered Main Hawaiian Islands insular Distinct Population
Segment), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback (Megaptera
novaeangliae), killer (Orcinus orca), melon-headed (Peponocephala
electra), minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), pygmy killer (Feresa
attenuata), pygmy sperm (Kogia breviceps), short-finned pilot
(Globicephala macrorhynchus), and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus)
whales; and common bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), Fraser's
(Lagenodelphis hosei), pantropical spotted (Stenella attenuata),
Risso's (Grampus griseus), rough-toothed (Steno bredanensis), short-
beaked common (Delphinus delphis), spinner (Stenella longistrostris
longirostris), and striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) dolphins. The
objective of research is to assess the human impacts on, and the
distribution, abundance, social organization, population structure,
population size, foraging, diet, reproduction, movements, habitat use,
body condition, health, and behavior of Hawaiian cetaceans. Permitted
research procedures include photo-ID, photogrammetry, underwater
filming, suction-cup tagging, biopsy collection, fecal sampling,
sloughed skin collection, and exhaled air sample collection. Up to 10
suction-cup tags and up to 40 biopsy samples may be taken from the
above-listed species. The permit holder is requesting the permit be
amended to include authorization to import up to 40 humpback whale
(East Australia Distinct Population Segment) biopsy samples from
Australia. The imported samples will be used to
[[Page 1909]]
address a new study objective to understand the factors influencing
humpback whale migration along the east coast of Australia within the
context of a rapidly changing environment. Specifically, the study aims
to analyze the size, age, and body condition of the sub-population of
whales undertaking migration in a given year to provide insights into
the overall health and status of the regional humpback whale
population. The permit is valid through April 30, 2028. All other terms
and conditions of the permit would remain the same.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
Dated: January 8, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00450 Filed 1-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 11, 2024.
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