[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46492-46493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15824]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072805C]


Endangered Species; File No. 1538

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 46493]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that National Marine Fisheries Service, 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), 75 Virginia Beach Drive, 
Miami, Florida 33149, has applied in due form for a permit to take 
smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) for purposes of scientific 
research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before September 9, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 
(301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 1538.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay or Jennifer Skidmore, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is 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 
222-226).
    The applicant proposes to annually capture up to 5 smalltooth 
sawfish using bottom longline gear. Animals would be sexed, measured, 
and tagged with a pop-up satellite archival tag. The research would 
provide information on the survival rates of smalltooth sawfish 
captured and released from commercial fishing gear; habitat for adult 
sawfish; and daily and seasonal movement patterns and migration 
corridors that could aid in reducing further fishery interactions. The 
research would be concentrated in areas offshore of the Marquesas Keys, 
Florida Keys, Florida. The permit would be issued for 5 years.

    Dated: August 4, 2005.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-15824 Filed 8-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S