[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 41990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16943]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA179


Endangered Species; File Nos. 18069 and 14726

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit and permit modification.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Jeffrey Schmid, Ph.D., Conservancy 
of Southwest Florida, 1450 Merrihue Drive, Naples, FL 34102 and Blair 
Witherington, Ph.D., Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animal Programs 
Administration, P.O. Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, have been 
issued a permit [No. 18069] and a permit modification [No. 14726-02], 
respectively, to take Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), loggerhead 
(Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys 
imbricata), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles for 
purposes of scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permits and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following office:
    Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Rosa L. 
Gonz[aacute]lez, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 1, 2013 and September 18, 2013, 
notices were published in the Federal Register (78 FR 39258 and 78 FR 
57353) that a request for a scientific research permit and a 
modification of Permit No. 14726-01, respectively, to take sea turtles 
had been submitted by the above-named individuals. The requested permit 
and permit modification have 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).
    Permit No. 18069 authorizes researchers to capture green, 
loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and hawksbill sea turtles by encircle or 
strike net to assess the species' composition, relative abundance, 
size-class distribution, genetic structure, trophic status, health, 
seasonality, habitat use, and migrations of marine turtles inhabiting 
the coastal waters of Charlotte Harbor and the Ten Thousand Islands in 
southwest Florida. Sea turtles may have the following procedures 
performed before release: measure; photograph/video; flipper and 
passive integrated transponder tag; weigh; skin, scute and blood 
sample; and/or attach one to two transmitters to the carapace. A subset 
of animals may be transported and held in the lab for 48 hours for 
fecal sampling prior to release. The permit is valid for 5 years from 
the date of issuance.
    Permit No. 14726-01 authorizes the permit holder to locate and 
describe areas of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico near Florida 
that serve as developmental habitat for pelagic-stage juvenile and 
neonate loggerhead, green, Kemp's ridley, hawksbill, and leatherback 
sea turtles, to quantify threats to pelagic sea turtles, and to gather 
information on their life-history, genetics, movements, behavior, and 
diet. Researchers are authorized to capture by dip net, flipper and 
passive integrated transponder tag, measure, weigh, and oral swab sea 
turtles. A subset of animals may be skin biopsied, fecal sampled, 
lavaged or have a satellite tag attached. The permit modification (No. 
02) 1) expands the action area in the Gulf of Mexico; 2) authorizes 
another satellite tag attachment method, scute sampling, and blood 
sampling; and 3) increases the take numbers and life stages of animals 
that may be harassed or biologically sampled and satellite tagged. The 
permit is valid through September 15, 2015.
    Issuance of these permits, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that each permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened 
species, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth 
in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: July 15, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-16943 Filed 7-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P