[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3966]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: February 23, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 020894A]
Marine Mammals
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), NOAA, Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of application for a permit to take marine mammals for
the purposes of scientific research and to enhance the survival of a
species (P772#65).
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Southwest Fisheries Science
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla,
California 92038-0271, has applied in due form for a permit to take
Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) for purposes of scientific
research and to enhance the survival of the species.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 25, 1994.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review upon written request or by appointment in the following
office(s):
Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289);
Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, suite
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, (310/980-4016); and
Marine Mammal Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, NMFS, 2570 Dole
Street, room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822 (808/955-8831).
Written data or views, or requests for a public hearing on this
request, should be submitted to the Director, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1315 East-West
Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910, within 30 days of the
publication of this notice. Those individuals requesting a hearing
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this
particular request would be appropriate.
Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register, the Secretary of Commerce is forwarding copies of this
application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit 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 fish and
wildlife (50 CFR part 222).
The applicant proposes to conduct several research/enhancement
activities on Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi). The various
activities requested are primarily those which have been authorized in
the past under the applicant's previous permits (e.g., Permit Nos. 657,
729, and 778). These activities include the following: (1) Possible
inadvertent harassment (multiple times annually) of up to the entire
population of Hawaiian monk seals (approximately 1500) incurred during
census activities; (2) mass mortality response activities, including
(a) sacrifice of up to 10 moribund pups, (b) collection of samples from
up to 20 diseased seals, (c) collection of samples from up to 10
apparently healthy seals (and possible biopsy of up to 5 of these 10),
(d) sacrifice of up to 6 apparently normal males, (e) experimental
treatment and or removal from the affected island of up to 10 diseased
seals, and (f) treatment and/or removal of up to 100 additional seals;
(3) collection for rehabilitation and release to the wild of up to 70
immature seals; (4) tagging and marking of up to 1000 pups and
juveniles; (5) instrumentation (satellite/VHF transmitters, and time-
depth recorders (TDRs)) of up to 25 seals; (6) bleach marking of up to
1500 seals; and (7) stomach lavage of up to 40 seals. Additionally, the
applicant is requesting authorization for the accidental mortality of
some of these animals.
Dated: February 14, 1994.
William W. Fox, Jr.,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-3966 Filed 2-22-94; 8:45 am]
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