[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 47 (Friday, March 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9437-9438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5481]



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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 022696C]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: Issuance of permits 984 and 986.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Permit 984 to Drs. 
Mary Moser and Steve Ross of the University of North Carolina (P423B), 
and Permit 986 to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Both permits 
authorize the take of listed shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser 
brevirostrum) for the purpose of scientific research, subject to 
certain conditions set forth therein.

ADDRESSES: The applications, permits, and related documents are 
available for review by appointment in the following offices:

Office of Protected Resources, F/PR8, NMFS, 1315 East-West Hwy., Room 
13307, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226 (301-713-1401); or
Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, NOAA, 9721 Executive Center Drive, 
St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813-893-3141).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice was published on December 4, 1995 (60 
FR 62075) that an application had been filed by Drs. Mary Moser and 
Steve W. Ross of the Center for Marine Science 

[[Page 9438]]
Research, NC, to take listed shortnose sturgeon as authorized by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) and NMFS 
regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 
217-222). The applicants requested a 2-year permit to take shortnose 
sturgeon in the rivers of NC, to determine their distribution and 
habitat use. Adult shortnose sturgeon will be collected by gillnetting, 
weighed, measured, photographed, tagged, have tissue samples taken, and 
be released. Up to 10 of these adult shortnose sturgeon will be tagged 
with an ultrasonic transmitter, and tracked. Eggs and larvae will be 
collected to gather information on spawning sites. On February 14, 
1996, as authorized by the ESA, NMFS issued Permit 984 authorizing this 
research.
    Notice was published on September 28, 1995 (60 FR 50189) that an 
application had been filed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The 
applicant requested authorization for a 5-year scientific research 
permit to take listed shortnose sturgeon in the Southeast US. The 
purpose of the research is to develop strategies that can be applied by 
fisheries managers to aid in the recovery of shortnose sturgeon 
populations. Research will be conducted mainly on non-releasable 
captive shortnose sturgeon and their progeny, with a maximum take in 
the wild of 50 adult fish annually for population assessment and 
biological comparison with hatchery fish. Wild fish will be released 
following measurement, tagging, and the collection of tissue samples. 
On February 23, 1996, as authorized by the ESA, NMFS issued Permit 986 
for this research.
    Issuance of these permits, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permits: (1) Were applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species that is the 
subject of the permits, and (3) are consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: February 27, 1996.
Russell J. Bellmer,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-5481 Filed 3-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F