Marine Mammals; Files No. 522-1785 and 633-1778, 13481 [05-5539]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 53 (Monday, March 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 13481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5539]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030905D]


Marine Mammals; Files No. 522-1785 and 633-1778

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

ACTION: Receipt of applications.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that two applicants have applied in due 
form for a permit to take marine mammals for scientific research 
purposes or for an amendment to an existing permit.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 20, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521;
    File No. 633-1778 - Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected 
Resources, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930-2298; phone (978)281-9328; fax (987)281-9394; and
    Files 522-1758 and 633-1778 - Assistant Regional Administrator for 
Protected Resources, Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33701, phone (727)824-5312; fax (727)824-5309.
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and 
Education Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 
individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
    Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
File No. 522-1785 or File No. 633-1778.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson (Ruth.Johnson@noaa.gov) 
or Carrie Hubard (Carrie.W.Hubard@noaa.gov) or phone (301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing the Taking 
and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), 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 222-226).
    Dr. Randall Wells (File No. 522-1785) requests a permit to take 
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for scientific research. The 
take would include capture, examination, sample, mark, tag and release 
of up to 120 individual bottlenose dolphins in the shallow coastal 
waters of central west Florida and remotely biopsy sample 100 dolphins 
annually for five years. This work is a continuation of research 
activities since 1984. The activities would provide crucial background 
information on individual identification, sex, age, reproductive 
status, and genetic relationships to support ongoing long-term 
observational studies of population structure, population dynamics, 
life history, social structure, genetic structure including paternity 
patterns, and human interactions. Tissue samples and veterinary 
examinations would support investigation of biomarkers of environmental 
contaminants and their effects as part of an ongoing study in 
collaboration with NMFS. Other components of the collaborative program 
involve studies of health assessment, contaminant loads and associated 
medical effects, immune system function, detection of brevetoxin, 
assessments of thermal status, identification of prey species, 
nutritional status, and predation events, studies of whistle 
development and function, measures of hearing ability, and behavior 
associated with sound production.
    Center for Coastal Studies (File No. 633-1778), (Julie Robbins 
(PI), requests a permit to approach, photograph (1600 animals) and 
collect tissue samples (200 animals) from humpback whales (Megaptera 
novaeangliae). Humpbacks would be biopsy sampled up to three times per 
year. Activities would take place in all U.S. waters of the North 
Atlantic Ocean, but would focus on the U.S. and Canadian Gulf of Maine. 
The Center for Coastal Studies maintains a long-term catalog and life 
history database for the Gulf of Maine humpback population. In the next 
five years, those data are expected to be applied to the following 
areas of research: (1) to monitor trends in abundance and vital rates, 
(2) to study movement and habitat use patterns, including individual 
exchange with other populations, (3) to study entanglement rates and 
human-related impacts, (4) to perform molecular genetic investigations 
into demography and reproductive success, (5) to perform hormone-based 
studies into reproduction and neonatal mortality, and (6) to perform 
stable isotope investigations into foraging ecology and nutritional 
stress. Authorization is also requested to import, export and re-export 
tissue samples between the U.S. and Canada and collect sloughed skin. 
Additionally, six other cetacean species would be approached and biopsy 
sampled on an opportunistic basis during the proposed research. Samples 
would be used to increase scientific understanding of local populations 
and to clarify oceanic population structure. The six species include 
approach, photo-id and biopsy sample once up to 25 each of fin whales 
(Balaenoptera physalus), minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), sei 
whales (Balaenoptera borealis), blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), 
sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), and 50 each of killer whales 
(Orcinus orca).
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: March 15, 2005.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5539 Filed 3-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S