[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 150 (Monday, August 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52130-52131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16808]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD219]


Endangered Species; File No. 23200

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for a permit modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Frederick Scharf, Ph.D., 
University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Road, 
Wilmington, NC 28403, has requested a modification to scientific 
research Permit No. 23200-01.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 6, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: The modification 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. 23200 Mod 6 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. 23200 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: Erin Markin, Ph.D., or Malcolm Mohead, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 
23200-01, issued on January 24, 2022 (87 FR 7820, February 10, 2022) 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).
    Permit No. 23200-01 authorizes the permit holder to: conduct 
scientific research on adult, subadult, and juvenile Atlantic 
(Acipenser oxyrinchus) and shortnose (A. brevirostrum) sturgeon to 
determine their abundance, distribution, habitat use, and migration 
dynamics in the coastal rivers and estuaries of North Carolina basins 
(Cape Fear, Neuse, Tar/Pamlico, Roanoke/Chowan). Researchers may 
capture Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon using gill nets, trammel nets, 
or trawls, measure, weigh, mark (passive integrated transponder (PIT), 
Floy), biologically sample (tissue), anesthetize, acoustically tag, and 
photograph/video sturgeon prior to release. The permit holder requests 
authorization to: (1) increase the number of juvenile, subadult, and 
adult Atlantic sturgeon to receive an internal acoustic tag; (2) add 
external acoustic tagging of Atlantic sturgeon; and (3) conduct 
research on Atlantic sturgeon captured under other authority in the 
Frying Pan Shoals area. Up to 5 additional subadult/adult and up to 20 
juvenile Atlantic sturgeon would receive an internal acoustic tagging 
annually in each location. Up to 75 subadult/adult and 50 juvenile 
Atlantic sturgeon may be captured under other authority during surveys 
in the Frying Pan Shoals area. Sturgeon captured under other authority 
may be marked (PIT, Floy), biologically sampled (tissue), measured, 
weighed, and photographed/videoed prior to release. A subset may 
receive either an external or internal acoustic tag prior to release. 
The permit is valid through January 31, 2025.


[[Page 52131]]


    Dated: August 1, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-16808 Filed 8-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P