[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 2889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00803]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC679]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Abalone

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of application; to renew one scientific 
research and enhancement permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a request to 
renew an existing scientific research and enhancement permit for white 
abalone. The proposed work is intended to increase knowledge of species 
listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide 
management, conservation, and recovery efforts. The application may be 
viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the application 
must be received at the provided email address (see ADDRESSES) on or 
before February 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: All written comments on the applications should be submitted 
by email to [email protected]. Please include the permit number 
(14344-3R) in the subject line of the email.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Wang, Long Beach, CA (email: 
[email protected]). Permit application instructions are available 
from the address above, or online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni).

Authority

    Scientific research and enhancement permits are issued in 
accordance with section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 
and regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR 
parts 222-226). NMFS issues permits based on findings that such 
permits: (1) are applied for in good faith; (2) if granted and 
exercised, would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species 
that are the subject of the permit; and (3) are consistent with the 
purposes and policy of section 2 of the ESA. The authority to take 
listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits.
    Anyone requesting a hearing on the application listed in this 
notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on the 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are 
held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NMFS.

Applications Received

Permit 14344-3R

    The University of California, Davis' Bodega Marine Laboratory (BML) 
has requested to renew a research and enhancement permit that currently 
authorizes a captive breeding program for white abalone. The permit 
allows BML and approved facilities to hold, breed, grow-out, and 
conduct lab studies on captive white abalone. The permit also allows 
BML and co-investigators to collect wild white abalone from the ocean 
and bring them in to captivity to serve as broodstock for the captive 
breeding program. The requested permit renewal would allow these 
activities to continue for an additional 5 years.
    The purpose of the research and enhancement permit is to: (1) 
investigate and overcome key barriers to captive propagation of 
endangered white abalone in captivity; (2) identify limitations on 
reproduction in wild white abalone; (3) understand disease processes 
and how to mitigate them; and (4) seek the most successful means of 
restoring white abalone in the wild.
    Activities would include collection from the wild, captive holding, 
breeding, rearing, grow-out, lab experiments, genetic sampling, 
tagging, observation, and transport of white abalone. Both wild-
collected and captive-bred white abalone are currently held at BML and 
several captive facilities throughout the coast. Additional wild white 
abalone may be collected to increase the numbers and genetic integrity 
of the captive broodstock. We expect and intend that the captive 
breeding program will benefit white abalone by supporting critical lab 
studies to inform recovery and providing healthy abalone for 
outplanting to restore wild populations.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments 
submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements 
of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit 
decision will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment 
period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: January 11, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-00803 Filed 1-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P