[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67251-67252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21501]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD422]


Endangered Species; File No. 23096

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 the University of Georgia, Warnell 
School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E Green Street, Athens, 
GA 30602 (Responsible Party: Dale Greene, Ph.D.) has requested a 
modification to scientific research Permit No. 23096.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 30, 2023.

[[Page 67252]]


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. 23096 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. 23096 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 Erin Markin, Ph.D., 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 
23096, issued on January 31, 2020 (85 FR 7978, February 12, 2020), 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. 23096 authorizes the permit holder to: quantify 
population dynamics and seasonal habitat of Atlantic and shortnose 
sturgeon in Georgia and Florida river systems and estuaries [i.e., 
Savannah GA), Altamaha (GA), Ogeechee (GA), Satilla (GA), St. Marys 
(GA, FL), Nassau (FL) and St. Johns River systems (FL)]. Researchers 
may capture (by gillnet or trammel net), tag (passive integrated 
transponder, internal acoustic, and dart), anesthetize, genetic fin 
clip, fin ray clip, measure, weigh, photograph/video, blood sample, and 
laparoscopically biopsy gonads of juvenile, sub-adult, and adult 
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon. Early life stages of each species may 
be lethally sampled to document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up 
to two sturgeon of each species may unintentionally die annually in 
each river system during sampling activities, excluding the Satilla, St 
Marys, and St. Johns Rivers. The permit holder now requests: (1) 
increasing the numbers of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon internally 
tagged with acoustic transmitters. In the Ogeechee River the numbers of 
adult/subadult Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon internally tagged would 
increase from 10 to 20 and 5 to 20, respectively. In the Altamaha River 
the numbers of adult/subadult Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon 
internally tagged would increase from 15 to 25 and 10 to 30, 
respectively. (2) adding apical scute sampling to the same adult/sub-
adult and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon taken in each river 
system to compare ageing results from fin rays sampling. Micronutrient 
analysis of the scute sample would also be conducted to compare trace 
historic movement patterns of species captured in each river system 
annually; and (3) adding epidermal mucus sampling to the same adult/
subadult and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon taken in each 
river system annually to address new objectives to differentiate 
between sturgeon species and sex using metabolomic analysis. The permit 
expires January 31, 2030.

    Dated: September 25, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-21501 Filed 9-28-23; 8:45 am]
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