[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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