[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 24597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08465]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC922]


Endangered Species; File No. 27294

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Nicole Phillips, Ph.D., The 
University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Biological Sciences, 
118 College Drive #5018, Hattiesburg, MS 39406 (File No. 27294) has 
applied in due form for a permit to receive, collect, and import 
sawfish samples for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or emailed comments must be received on or 
before May 22, 2023.

ADDRESSES: The application request 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. 27294 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 File No. 27294 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: Malcolm Mohead or Jennifer Skidmore at 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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 (Dr. Phillips) is requesting authorization to 
receive, collect, and import tissue samples of five species of listed 
sawfish, including smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), largetooth 
sawfish (P. pristis), green sawfish (P. zijsron), dwarf sawfish (P. 
clavata), and narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidate) to generate 
genetic data of historic sawfish populations from tissue samples 
``collected'' by researchers from archived rostra or those received 
opportunistically from saws with known location data held in museums, 
educational, and private collections. The goals of research are to: (1) 
assess whether there has been a recent loss of genetic diversity in 
sawfishes globally, (2) evaluate the long-term survival outlook for 
sawfishes, and (3) identify locations harboring unique genetic 
variation which may warrant prioritization in future conservation 
plans. Tissue samples may include pre-act or post-act Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) specimens and will be collected and received from 
sawfish specimens sourced in U.S. public and private collections or 
imported from museums and collaborators overseas for a period of 5 
years. Up to 800 tissue samples of sawfish specimens will be imported 
from all noted species annually. As appropriate, samples may also be 
exported for analysis or returned to former holders as unused samples. 
Genetic data will be generated for the historic tissue samples and 
compared to genetic datasets for contemporary populations in Australia, 
the USA, Papua New Guinea, and Brazil. The requested duration of the 
permit is 5 years.

    Dated: April 18, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-08465 Filed 4-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P