[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 128 (Thursday, July 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36106-36107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14570]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB219]


Endangered Species; File Nos. 25696 and 25716

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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[[Page 36107]]

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Inwater Research Group, Inc., 4160 
NE Hyline Dr., Jensen Beach, FL 34957 (Responsible Party: Michael 
Bresette) and the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), 166 
Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 (Responsible Party: Jon Hare), have 
applied in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), 
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta 
caretta), and unidentified hardshell sea turtles for purposes of 
scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before August 9, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
``Features'' box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 25696 or 25716 from the list of available applications. These 
documents are also available upon written request via email to 
[email protected].
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Please include the relevant File No. in 
the subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request via email to [email protected]. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Jordan Rutland, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested 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).
    File No. 25696: The applicant proposes to study the habitat 
preference, species abundance, size frequencies, and 
fibropapillomatosis rates of sea turtles inhabiting inshore lagoons and 
nearshore reefs between Indian River and Miami-Dade Counties in 
southeastern Florida. Annually up to 200 green, 25 loggerhead, 10 
Kemp's ridley and 10 hawksbill sea turtles would be counted and 
captured by hand, dip net, or tangle net. Captured turtles would be 
measured, weighed, temporarily marked, flipper tagged, and passive 
integrated transponder (PIT) tagged, photographed, and skin and blood 
sampled prior to release. In addition, all loggerhead sea turtles would 
receive a sonic or satellite transmitter and all green sea turtles 
would undergo gastric lavage prior to release. A subset of greens would 
be transported to a local facility for imaging and/or receive a 
transmitter prior to their return to the wild. Another 1,350 green, 100 
loggerhead, 75 hawksbill, and 20 Kemp's ridley sea turtles may be 
pursued during unsuccessful capture attempts annually. The permit would 
be valid for 10 years.
    File No. 25716: The NEFSC proposes to continue studying sea turtles 
legally bycaught within commercial fisheries operating in the Northwest 
Atlantic Ocean. The objective is to monitor the take of ESA listed sea 
turtle species in observed commercial fisheries and to collect data to 
help estimate total bycatch. Up to 50 loggerhead, 10 Kemp's ridley, 10 
green, 20 leatherback, and 20 unidentified sea turtles would be 
photographed, measured, weighed, flipper tagged and PIT tagged, and 
skin biopsied prior to release annually. Carcasses, tissues or parts 
also may be salvaged from dead sea turtles. The permit would be valid 
for 5 years.

    Dated: July 2, 2021.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-14570 Filed 7-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P