[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32586-32587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15734]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 052397D]


Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Issuance of scientific research permit no. 848-1335.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center, Honolulu Laboratory, NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 
96822-2396, has been issued a permit to ``take'' Hawaiian monk seals 
(Monachus schauinslandi) for purposes of scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
    1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289);
    Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (310/980-4001); and
    Protected Species Program Coordinator, Pacific Area Office, 
Southwest Region, NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu, HI 96822-
2396 (808/973-2987).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 6, 1997, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (62 FR 10259) that the above-named applicant had 
submitted a

[[Page 32587]]

request for a scientific research and enhancement permit to ``take'' 
Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) at all locations within 
the Hawaiian Archipelago and at Johnston Atoll. The research will be 
conducted over a 5-year period and will involve population assessment, 
disease assessment, recovery actions, and pelagic ecology studies of 
Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) at all locations within 
the Hawaiian Archipelago and at Johnston Atoll. Research methods 
include: observation and monitoring; capture; physical and chemical 
restraint; flipper tagging and retagging; instrumentation; bleach 
marking; measuring and weighing; blood and tissue sampling; swabbing; 
biopsy sampling (blubber); lavage; capture for the purpose of 
rehabilitation and release to the wild; and experimental medical 
treatment. The research will be conducted over a 5-year period. The 
requested permit has been issued 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 (ESA) 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).
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the 
subject of this permit; and (3) is consistent with the purposes and 
policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: June 10, 1997.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-15734 Filed 6-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F