[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 53967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23437]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D 081403A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 782-1708-00

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 the National Marine Mammal 
Laboratory (NMML), National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand 
Point Way, NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 (PI: Dr. 
Thomas Loughlin) has been issued a permit to take Northern fur seals 
(Callorhinus ursinus) for purposes of scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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
    Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907)586-
7235; fax (907)586-7012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Carrie Hubard 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 4, 2003, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (68 FR 33477) that a request for a scientific research 
permit to take the species identified above had been submitted by the 
above-named organization. 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), and the Fur Seal Act of 
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The Permit authorizes NMML to take Northern fur seals during 
scientific research. Seals will be captured, tagged, sampled and 
incidentally harassed during annual censuses on the Pribilof Islands. 
All of this work is essential for: (1) monitoring the status and trends 
of the northern fur seal population, (2) evaluating the condition of 
animals from each cohort (health and strength of year-class), (3) 
monitoring the diet, and (4) documenting the movement patterns, 
foraging behavior, and essential foraging habitat of various age and 
sex classes of fur seals. The information collected under this permit 
will be important for assessing the recovery of this depleted species 
and for evaluating management actions.

    Dated: September 3, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23437 Filed 9-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S