Marine Mammals; File No. 29925

Issuing agencies

Abstract

Notice is hereby given that Craig O'Connell, Ph.D., O'Seas Conservation Foundation, Inc., 26 South Shore Drive, Ridgefield, CT 06877, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial and educational photography on cetaceans.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 66689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21616]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XG142]


Marine Mammals; File No. 29925

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Craig O'Connell, Ph.D., O'Seas 
Conservation Foundation, Inc., 26 South Shore Drive, Ridgefield, CT 
06877, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial and 
educational photography on cetaceans.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 23, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e9a7a4afbac7b99bd8aa8684848c879d9aa987868888c78e869f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b15161d08750b296a183436363e352f281b35343a3a753c342d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#da94979c89f48aa8eb99b5b7b7bfb4aea99ab4b5bbbbf4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8cc2c1cadfa2dcfebdcfe3e1e1e9e2f8ffcce2e3ededa2ebe3fa">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include File No. 29925 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#d29c9f9481fc82a0e391bdbfbfb7bca6a192bcbdb3b3fcb5bda4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1fffcf7e29fe1c380f2dedcdcd4dfc5c2f1dfded0d09fd6dec7">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Sara 
Young, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests a 2-year permit to harass and film cetaceans 
for a documentary film about the ecological relationships between 
sharks and cetaceans and the anthropogenic threats they face, including 
opportunistic filming of sharks feeding on marine mammal carcasses. Up 
to 5 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), 5 minke whales 
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 100 common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), 
100 Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus), and 50 
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) may be harassed, observed, and 
filmed annually by vessel, unmanned aircraft system, and underwater 
divers.
    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 the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: October 19, 2026.
Larissa Plants,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-21616 Filed 10-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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