[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 2118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-817]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110403A]


Endangered Species; File No. 1418

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 Lawrence D. Wood, Marinelife 
Center of Juno Beach, 14200 U.S. Hwy. 1, Juno Beach, FL, 33408, has 
been issued a permit to take hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys 
imbricata) 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 May 20, 2003, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (68 FR 27535) that a request for a scientific research 
permit to take hawksbill 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, measure, Passive 
Integrated Transponder (PIT) and flipper tag, photograph, tissue 
sample, paint a number on the carapace of, and release up to 75 
hawksbill sea turtles annually. Only 6 turtles will be initially marked 
with the painted number to test the efficacy of the this procedure, and 
future decisions concerning the value and use of this technique will be 
based on the results. The purpose of the research is to determine the 
abundance, distribution and movement patterns of this species. It will 
also provide growth rate information about these turtles and the 
researcher will determine the feasibility of photographic 
identification through unique individual characteristics. The permit 
duration is 5 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: January 8, 2004.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-817 Filed 1-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S