[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 3332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1482]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D.121103B]


Endangered Species; File No. 1448

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 Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 166 Water Street, Woods 
Hole, MA 02543-1097 has been issued a permit to take loggerhead 
(Caretta caretta), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Kemp's ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempii), green (Chelonia mydas), and hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles 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;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298; phone (978)281-9200; fax (978)281-9371.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 14, 2003, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (68 FR 59163) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take loggerhead, leatherback, Kemp's ridley, green, 
and hawksbill sea turtles had been submitted by the above-named 
organization. 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 handle, measure, flipper tag, scan for Passive 
Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags, biopsy sample and photograph a total 
of 1,500 loggerhead, 50 green, 250 leatherback and 50 hawksbill sea 
turtles and handle, measure, flipper tag, scan for PIT tags and 
photograph a total of 50 Kemp's ridley sea turtles over the duration of 
the permit. Seventy-five of the loggerheads and 20 of the Kemp's 
ridleys will also be dip-netted. This research will be conducted on 
animals that have been already incidentally captured in commercial 
fisheries operating in state waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone in 
the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. The purpose of the research is to 
determine the size and composition of populations of sea turtles found 
in the commercial fishing areas of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and to 
establish individual identities of turtles which will permit subsequent 
determination of growth rates, possible stock origins and movement 
patterns. The research will contribute to the understanding of the 
pelagic ecology of these species, permit more complete models of their 
population dynamics, and allow more reliable assessments of commercial 
fishery impacts.
    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 14, 2003.
Carrie W. Hubard,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-1482 Filed 1-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S