[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19165-19166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9523]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041002A]


Endangered Species; Permits

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

ACTION: NMFS has issued modification #3 to Permit 1178 and modification 
#1 to Permit 1295.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding 
permits for takes of endangered and threatened species for the purposes 
of scientific research and/or enhancement under the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA): NMFS has issued modification #3 to Permit 1178 to Mr. Harold 
Foster, of NMFS-NEFSC and modification #1 to permit 1295 to Dr. Richard 
Merrick, of NMFS-NEFSC-PSB.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on 
a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) are applied for in good 
faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species 
which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Scientific 
research and/or enhancement permits are issued under

[[Page 19166]]

section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. Authority to take listed species is 
subject to conditions set forth in the permits. Permits and 
modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject to the ESA 
and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR 
parts 222-226).

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following species:

Sea turtles

    Threatened and endangered Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
    Endangered Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
    Endangered Kemp's ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
    Endangered Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
    Threatened Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

Permit # 1178

    Notice was published on October 26, 2001 (63 FR 49335), that Mr. 
Harold Foster, of NMFS-NEFSC applied for a modification to 1178. 
Modification #3 authorizes the import and export of sea turtle pieces 
and parts for the purpose of research. The applicant has a 5-year 
scientific research permit to take listed sea turtles incidentally 
taken in foreign and domestic commercial fisheries operating in state 
waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. 
The work will be conducted by scientific observers aboard commercial 
fishing vessels. The following species and annual take numbers have 
been requested: 300 loggerhead (Caretta caretta), 85 leatherback 
(Dermochelys coriacea), 10 Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi), 10 
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and 10 green (Chelonia mydas) 
turtles. The applicant has requested authorization to measure, 
photograph, flipper tag, scan for PIT tags, resuscitate (if necessary) 
and release turtles taken incidentally in foreign and domestic 
commercial fisheries. Further, the applicant has requested authority to 
bring to shore, when feasible, dead sea turtles for necropsy. Necropsy 
will only be performed by personnel currently permitted to conduct such 
research. This research supports the National Marine Fisheries 
Service's mission of assessing the impacts of commercial fisheries on 
marine resources of interest to the United States. Modification #3 to 
Permit 1178 was issued on March 25, 2002, authorizing take of listed 
species. Permit 1178 expires December 31, 2003.

Permit # 1295

    Notice was published on October 26, 2001 (66 FR 54233), that Dr. 
Richard Merrick, of NMFS-NEFSC-PSB applied for a modification to 1295. 
Modification #1 authorizes the import and export of sea turtle pieces 
and parts for the purpose of research. The goal of the 5-year plan for 
sea turtles in the Northeast is to work cooperatively with other 
regions to support and direct research on sea turtles in order to 
identify and assess the status of sea turtle stocks, reduce the 
estimated mortality associated with fishing activities and other 
anthropogenic and natural sources and to recover ESA listed species. 
Modification #1 to Permit 1295 was issued on March 28, 2002, 
authorizing take of listed species. Permit 1295 expires May 31, 2006.

    Dated: April 12, 2002.
Ann Terbush
Chief, Permits, Conservation, and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-9523 Filed 4-17-02; 8:45 am]
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