[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 4225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2075]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 011398A]


Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit No. 550-1441 (File No. 
P36D)

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr. Bernd Wursig, Director, Marine 
Mammal Research Program, Texas A&M University, 4700 Avenue U/Building 
303, Galveston, Texas 77551, has been issued a permit to take Atlantic 
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) 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 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289); and
    Regional Administrator, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, NOAA, 9721 
Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-
5301).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 29, 1997, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (62 FR 56151), that the above-named applicant had 
submitted a request for a scientific research permit to harass 
bottlenose dolphins during the course of: (1) photo-identification and 
boat-based behavioral studies; (2) biopsy sampling of 100 individuals 
for genetic and contaminant studies; and (3) acoustic playback 
experiments to test the behavioral reaction of the dolphins to 
``pingers'' used to deter marine mammal entanglement in commercial 
fishing gear. 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.), and the Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of 
Marine Mammals (50 CFR Part 216).

    Dated: January 21, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2075 Filed 1-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F