[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59163-59164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25927]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D.093003A]


Marine Mammals; File No. 699-1720

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. Kathryn Ono, Department of 
Biological Sciences, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, 
Biddeford, Maine, 04005 has been issued a permit to take (Phoca 
vitulina concolor), gray seals (Halichoerus grypus), harp seals (Phoca 
groenlandica) and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) 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
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978) 281-9200; fax (978) 281-9371.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Wilkin or Jennifer Jefferies, 
(301) 713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 29, 2003, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (68 FR 44526) that a

[[Page 59164]]

request for a scientific research permit to take ``the species 
identified above'' had been submitted by the above-named individual. 
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).
    The purpose of the research is to assess the health of the 
Northeast Atlantic harbor seal population residing along the coast of 
Maine. The permit authorizes the applicant to take up to 200 harbor 
seals annually by capture, and physically restrain and sample 20 young 
of the year pups. Morphometric measurements, samples of blood, feces, 
and skin biopsies will be taken, and flipper tags attached. Annually, 
up to 10 pups will have satellite tags attached to allow movement 
tracking and behavioral analysis. Accidental mortality of 2 harbor 
seals annually is authorized. Accidental capture and immediate release 
of 5 gray seals, 3 harp seals, and 3 hooded seals annually is also 
authorized. Additionally, Level B Harassment (disturbance of animals on 
haul-outs) is authorized for 400 harbor seals, 5 grey seals, 3 harp 
seals and 3 hooded seals annually. The research will study movement and 
migration patterns for young of the year pups. The movements, disease 
load, survival and behavior of wild-caught pups will be compared with 
rehabilitated pups from the same population and cohort to determine 
baseline ``normal'' behavior. The Permit will expire September 30, 
2008.

    Dated: October 2, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-25927 Filed 10-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S