[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 214 (Friday, November 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 76922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26677]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA341


Marine Mammals; File No. 15324

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
(ADF&G), Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, AK (Responsible 
Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.) has been issued a minor amendment to 
Scientific Permit No. 15324.

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the 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: Sara Young or Amy Sloan, phone (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested amendment has been granted 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The original permit (No. 15324), issued on May 25, 2011 (76 FR 
30309) authorized taking spotted (Phoca largha), ringed (Phoca 
hispida), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), and ribbon seals (Histriophoca 
fasciata) in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas of Alaska to 
monitor the status and health of all four species by analyzing samples 
from the subsistence harvest and by documenting movements and habitat 
use by tracking animals with satellite transmitters through December 
31, 2016. The major amendment (No. 15324-01) amended the permit to 
include: (1) Takes by harassment during aerial and vessel surveys to 
monitor seal distribution relative to changes in sea ice; (2) increased 
takes by incidental harassment; (3) the use of additional sedative 
drugs during capture activities; and (4) the use of remote dart-
delivery as a method for capturing bearded seals. reduced the number of 
authorized mortalities for bearded seals and ringed seals. A second 
amendment (No. 15324-02) was issued to: (1) Modify the annual research 
time period from March-November to year-round; (2) authorize captures 
on land (in addition to already permitted captures in water and on 
ice); (3) modify open water capture techniques for bearded seals to 
include the use of a non-lethal deterrent (e.g., rubber bullets, bean 
bags, or paintballs) aimed near but not on seals while pursuing a seal 
prior to capture in a net to increase the chances of successful 
capture. The minor amendment (No. 15324-03) extends the duration of the 
permit through December 31, 2017, but does not change any other terms 
or conditions of the permit.

    Dated: October 31, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-26677 Filed 11-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P