[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 51247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21721]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D 080403A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1397

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. Jeanette Wyneken, Florida 
Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431, has been 
issued a permit to take green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) 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, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376;
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay, (301)713-1401 or Carrie 
Hubard, (301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 27, 2002, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (67 FR 70934) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take green sea turtles had been submitted by the 
above-named individual. The requested permit has been issued under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking, 
importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 
parts 222-226).
    The applicant will hand capture, handle, transport, temporarily 
hold, measure, weigh, sonic tag, paint a number on the carapace of, 
flipper tag, PIT tag, tissue sample, lavage, photograph, track, 
recapture and remove the sonic tag from, and release up to 10 green sea 
turtles annually. Although not included in the original permit 
application, NMFS received comments during the application review which 
recommended that the applicant flipper tag, PIT tag, and tissue biopsy 
each of the turtles captured during the proposed research. Tagging will 
facilitate individual identification of the turtles and provide 
information on migratory movements in the event of recapture by other 
researchers or stranding in the future. A biopsy sample will allow 
researchers to determine the genetic identity(s) of this group of 
animals, a priority research goal identified by NMFS. NMFS contacted 
the applicant to discuss these recommendations, and the applicant 
agreed to conduct these additional research activities. The purpose of 
the research is to determine the number and distribution of green sea 
turtles (Chelonia mydas) on shallow reef habitat located in Palm Beach 
County, FL as well as quantify their daily movements and establish what 
food and other resources of importance to this species are present 
there. The permit duration is 2 years.
    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: August 19, 2003.
Jennifer Skidmore,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-21721 Filed 8-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S