[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52387-52388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22457]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[r 082803A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1446

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

ACTION: Receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that North Carolina Division of Marine 
Fisheries (Mr. Blake Price, Principal Investigator), P.O. Box 769, 
Morehead City, North Carolina 28557, has applied in due form for a 
permit to take threatened and endangered sea turtles for purposes of 
scientific research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
October 3, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    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; and
    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: Carrie Hubard or Sarah Wilkin, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested 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 
222-226).
    The applicant proposes to test two types of large mesh gillnets to 
ascertain which type of net will better reduce sea turtle interactions 
while maintaining targeted fish catch rates. The control net will be 
constructed of 6.5 inch monofilament webbing with a twine diameter of 
0.57mm, 25 meshes deep. The low profile net will be constructed

[[Page 52388]]

of 6.5 inch monofilament webbing with a twine diameter of 0.57 mm, 
eight meshes deep. Nets will be set at dusk and retrieved in the early 
morning. Captured sea turtles will be examined for any possible 
injuries and held for approximately two hours to ensure they are 
healthy before being transported away from the fishing area and 
released. Turtles will be identified to species, measured, 
photographed, and flipper and PIT tagged. Any comatose or debilitated 
turtles will be transported to a rehabilitation center. During the life 
of the permit, the applicant requests authorization to capture 21 
animals, representing a combination of Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempii), loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea 
turtles. An additional 2 hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and 2 
leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles may also be captured. Of the 
captured turtles, 9 of the Kemp's/loggerhead/green turtle aggregate, 1 
hawksbill, and 1 leatherback may be mortalities. Research will be 
conducted in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina and the permit would expire 
in December 2004.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this 
application should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301)713-0376, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Please 
note that comments will not be accepted by e-mail or by other 
electronic media.

    Dated: August 28, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-22457 Filed 9-2-03; 8:45 am]
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