Notice2025-10085
Marine Mammals; File No. 24378
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
June 3, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that a major amendment to Permit No. 24378-01 has been issued to the University of Alaska Southeast, 1332 Seward Ave, Sitka, AK 99835 (Responsible Party: Jan Straley).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23519-23520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10085]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE954]
Marine Mammals; File No. 24378
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a major amendment to Permit No.
24378-01 has been issued to the University of Alaska Southeast, 1332
Seward Ave, Sitka, AK 99835 (Responsible Party: Jan Straley).
ADDRESSES: The permit amendment and related documents are available for
review upon written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ad4d7dcc9b4cae8abd9f5f7f7fff4eee9daf4f5fbfbb4fdf5ec"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6c22212a3f423c1e5d2f0301010902181f2c02030d0d420b031a">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Courtney
Smith, Ph.D., (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 28, 2025, notice was published in
the Federal Register (90 FR 14118) that a request for an amendment to
Permit No. 24378-01 to conduct research on marine mammals had been
submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit amendment
has been issued 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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting
of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222 through 226),
and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
Permit No. 24378-01, issued on April 28, 2023 (87 FR 80527,
December 30, 2022), authorizes research on 18 species of cetaceans in
Alaska, focusing on gray (Eschrichtius robustus), humpback (Megaptera
novaeangliae), killer (Orcinus orca), and sperm (Physeter
[[Page 23520]]
macrocephalus) whales. The permitted objectives are to further the
biological understanding of Alaskan cetaceans by evaluating species
abundance, population and stock structure, life history parameters,
foraging behavior and prey specialization, social behavior, seasonal
movements and migrations, and depredation interactions with longline
fishing vessels. Research methods include close approach by vessels and
unmanned aircraft systems for photo-identification, observations,
underwater photography/video, acoustic prey mapping, biological
sampling (prey remains, exhaled air, sloughed skin, feces, eDNA, skin
and blubber biopsy), and tagging (suction-cup and dart/barb). Marine
mammal parts may be exported for analysis. The permit amendment No.
24378-02 was issued on May 20, 2025, and authorized an increase in
annual take numbers of gray whales to account for an unanticipated
increase in observed gray whale numbers in Sitka Sound, and to allow
researchers to continue their efforts to better understand population
dynamics, demographics, body condition, and foraging strategies. The
permit expires on April 30, 2026.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit was based on a
finding that such permit: (1) was applied for in good faith; (2) will
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the
ESA.
Dated: May 29, 2025.
Shannon Bettridge,
Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-10085 Filed 6-2-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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