Endangered Species; File Nos. 19641, 17861, 20314, 20340, 20347, 20351, 20528, 20548, and 20651, 5536-5538 [2017-00956]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2017 / Notices
Commenters may address the
meeting, the role of the USCRTF, or
general coral reef conservation issues.
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comments, you should be aware that
your entire comment, including
personal identifying information may be
made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Established by Presidential Executive
Order 13089 in 1998, the U.S. Coral Reef
Task Force mission is to lead,
coordinate and strengthen U.S.
government actions to better preserve
and protect coral reef ecosystems. Cochaired by the Departments of
Commerce and Interior, Task Force
members include leaders of 12 federal
agencies, seven U.S. states and
territories and three freely associated
states.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Koss, NOAA USCRTF Steering
Committee Point of Contact, NOAA
Coral Reef Conservation Program, 1305
East-West Highway, N/OCRM, Silver
Spring, MD 20910 at 301–533–0777 or
Liza Johnson, USCRTF Executive
Secretary, U.S. Department of Interior,
MS–3530–MIB, 1849 C Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20240 at (202) 208–
5004 or visit the USCRTF Web site at
https://www.coralreef.gov
Dated: January 10, 2017.
Christopher Cartwright,
Chief Financial Officer, National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017–00845 Filed 1–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF164
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Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and the
South Atlantic; Southeast Data,
Assessment, and Review (SEDAR);
Pre-Workshop Webinar for
Southeastern U.S. Black Grouper;
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 48 pre-Data
Workshop webinar for Southeastern
U.S. black grouper.
AGENCY:
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The SEDAR 48 assessment
process of Southeastern U.S. black
grouper will consist of a Data
Workshop, an Assessment Workshop
and a series of assessment webinars, and
a Review Workshop. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
DATES: The SEDAR 48 pre-Data
Workshop webinar will be held
February 14, 2017, from 11 a.m. to 1
p.m. Eastern Time.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
via webinar. The webinar is open to
members of the public. Those interested
in participating should contact Julie A.
Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) to request an
invitation providing webinar access
information. Please request webinar
invitations at least 24 hours in advance
of each webinar.
SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place
Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC
29405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie
A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; (843) 571–
4366; email: Julie.neer@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
of Mexico, South Atlantic, and
Caribbean Fishery Management
Councils, in conjunction with NOAA
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf
States Marine Fisheries Commissions
have implemented the Southeast Data,
Assessment and Review (SEDAR)
process, a multi-step method for
determining the status of fish stocks in
the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data
Workshop, (2) a series of assessment
webinars, and (3) a Review Workshop.
The product of the Data Workshop is a
report that compiles and evaluates
potential datasets and recommends
which datasets are appropriate for
assessment analyses. The assessment
webinars produce a report that describes
the fisheries, evaluates the status of the
stock, estimates biological benchmarks,
projects future population conditions,
and recommends research and
monitoring needs. The product of the
Review Workshop is an Assessment
Summary documenting panel opinions
regarding the strengths and weaknesses
of the stock assessment and input data.
Participants for SEDAR Workshops are
appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South
Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery
Management Councils and NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office,
HMS Management Division, and
Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
Participants include data collectors and
database managers; stock assessment
scientists, biologists, and researchers;
constituency representatives including
fishermen, environmentalists, and
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NGO’s; International experts; and staff
of Councils, Commissions, and state and
federal agencies.
The items of discussion during the
pre-data workshop webinar are as
follows:
Panelists will present summary data
and discuss data needs and treatments.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the intent to take final action
to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
The meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to the
Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
business days prior to each workshop.
Note: The times and sequence specified in
this agenda are subject to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 11, 2017.
Jeffrey N. Lonergan,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–00959 Filed 1–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF116
Endangered Species; File Nos. 19641,
17861, 20314, 20340, 20347, 20351,
20528, 20548, and 20651
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
nine applicants have applied in due
form for permits to take Atlantic
sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus
oxyrinchus) and shortnose sturgeon
(Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of
scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
February 17, 2017.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2017 / Notices
The applications 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 corresponding File No. from
the list of available applications.
These documents are also available
upon written request or by appointment
in the Permits and Conservation
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376.
Written comments on the applications
should be submitted to the Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division, at
the address listed above. Comments may
also be submitted by facsimile to (301)
713–0376, or by email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please
include the File No. in the subject line
of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public
hearing should submit a written request
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation
Division at the address listed above. The
request should set forth the specific
reasons why a hearing on the
application(s) would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, (301)
427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permits are requested under the
authority of 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 parts 222–226).
Each application is summarized
below. Please refer to the associated
application for specific take numbers.
Permits may be valid for up to 10 years.
File No. 19641: Tom Savory,
Connecticut Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection, Marine
Fisheries, P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, CT
06371, requests a permit to collect,
examine and tag shortnose and Atlantic
sturgeon in Connecticut waters.
Shortnose sturgeon research would be
conducted in the Connecticut River
from the mouth to the Holyoke Dam.
Researchers would monitor for
presence, abundance, age and sex
composition, habitat utilization, and
seasonal movement. Atlantic and
shortnose sturgeon would be measured,
tissue sampled, passive integrated
transponder (PIT) tagged, photographed,
and weighed prior to release. A subset
of fish also would be fin ray sampled,
blood sampled, acoustic tagged, and
gastric lavaged. Up to three sturgeon of
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ADDRESSES:
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each species may unintentionally die
annually during research.
File No. 17861: Douglas Peterson,
University of Georgia Warnell School of
Forestry and Natural Resources
Fisheries Division, Athens, GA 30602,
requests a permit to better understand
the ecology, population dynamics, and
status of Atlantic and shortnose
sturgeon in Georgia and Florida river
systems. Spring and fall sampling
would occur for Atlantic and shortnose.
Fish would be PIT tagged, tissue
sampled, measured, and weighed prior
to release. A subset of fish would be
acoustically tagged, fin ray sampled for
aging, blood sampled, gonadal sampled,
and endoscopic sex determination.
Early life stages of each species would
be intentionally collected and killed to
document occurrence of spawning in
systems. Up to eight Atlantic sturgeon
and six shortnose sturgeon may
unintentionally die annually in all river
systems.
File No. 20314: Albert Spells, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 11110
Kimages Road, Charles City 23030,
requests a permit to conduct research in
Maryland and Virginia tributaries to the
Chesapeake Bay as well as within the
Chesapeake Bay proper. The objectives
of the research are to (1) identify the
overall health of the DPS, (2) monitor
reproductive success, spawning adult
and juvenile abundance in tributaries,
and (3) evaluate movement patterns and
habitat preferences in and between
tributaries of the Bay. Sampling gear
would include anchored/floating
gillnets and other nets. Fish would be
PIT tagged, tissue sampled, measured,
and weighed prior to release. Individual
fish would receive a T-bar, acoustic,
and/or satellite tag. A subset of fish
would be fin ray sampled. Early life
stages of Atlantic sturgeon would be
intentionally collected and killed to
document occurrence of spawning in
systems. Up to two Atlantic sturgeon
may unintentionally die annually
during research.
File No. 20340: Kim McKown, New
York State Department of
Environmental Conservation, 205 Belle
Mead Road, East Setuaket, NY 11733,
requests a permit to conduct research on
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to
determine movement of adult sturgeon
in the Hyde Park area, movement of age1 sturgeon in the Hudson River,
population estimates, and habitat
utilization. Fish would be collected by
gill nets year-round during ice-free
periods. Studies would involve acoustic
telemetry and mark-recapture. Upon
capture, fish would be measured,
weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled,
and photographed. A subset of fish
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5537
would be externally and/or internally
tagged, fin ray sampled for aging, gastric
lavaged, gonadal biopsied, and blood
sampled. Early life stages of Atlantic
sturgeon would be intentionally
collected and killed to document
occurrence of spawning in systems. Up
to four Atlantic sturgeon and three
shortnose sturgeon may unintentionally
die annually during research.
File 20347: Gayle Zydlewski,
University of Maine, requests a permit
to conduct research on Atlantic and
shortnose sturgeon to (1) determine
spawning periodicity and age class
distribution, and (2) identify critical
habitat and movement within and
between river systems. Research on
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the
Gulf of Maine would continue in several
river systems: Penobscot River,
Kennebec River, Saco River, and
Merrimack River. All sampling would
occur in riverine or near coastal areas
annually. Adults, subadults, and
juveniles would be sampled with gill
nets, trammel nets, trot lines, and a
miniature Missouri trawl in the spring,
summer, and fall annually. Upon
capture, fish would be measured,
weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled,
and photographed. A subset of fish
would be acoustically tagged, fin ray,
apical scute sampled, gastric lavaged,
borescopy, and blood sampled. Early
life stages of each species would be
intentionally collected and killed to
document occurrence of spawning in
systems. Up to four sturgeon of each
species may unintentionally die
annually during research.
File No. 20351: Michael Frisk, the
School of Marine and Atmospheric
Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, NY 11794, requests a permit to
conduct research on Atlantic and
shortnose sturgeon to continue a longterm study examining the movements
among and within Atlantic sturgeon
marine aggregation areas located in New
York, New Jersey, Delaware, and
Connecticut waters and to conduct
research to examine (1) sex-specific
movements, (2) genetic stock
identification, and (3) acquisition of
diet, age, and parasite-prevalence data.
Additional research would target adults
within the marine aggregation areas, and
target early life stage and juvenile
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon within
riverine and estuarine areas of the
Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Upon
capture, fish would be measured,
weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled,
and photographed. A subset of fish
would be externally and/or internally
tagged, fin ray sampled, gastric lavaged,
gonadal sampled, apical scute sampled,
ultrasound, and blood sampled. Early
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2017 / Notices
life stages of each species would be
intentionally collected and killed to
document occurrence of spawning in
systems. Up to three Atlantic sturgeon
and two shortnose sturgeon may
unintentionally die annually during
research.
File No. 20528: Bill Post, South
Carolina Department of Natural
Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road,
Charleston, SC 29412, requests a permit
to conduct research on Atlantic and
shortnose sturgeon to determine their
presence, status, health, habitat use, and
movements in South Carolina waters.
Studies would involve using gill nets to
capture fish. Upon capture, fish would
be measured, weighed, PIT tagged,
tissue sampled, and photographed. A
subset of individuals would be
acoustically tagged, fin ray sampled,
and gonadal biopsied. Early life stages
of each species would be intentionally
collected and killed to document
occurrence of spawning in systems. Up
to two sturgeon of each species may
unintentionally die annually during
research.
File No. 20548: Dewayne Fox,
Delaware State University, Department
of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
1200 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE
19901, requests a permit to conduct
research on Atlantic and shortnose
sturgeon using gillnets, D-ring nets, egg
pad collectors, biotelemetry, and
hydroacoustic tools in the Delaware
River/Estuary, Hudson River/Estuary,
and coastal environment between
Virginia and New York to develop
quantitative estimates of run size,
recruitment, and habitat assessment.
Upon capture, fish would be measured,
weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled,
and photographed. A subset of
individuals would be externally and/or
internally tagged, fin ray sampled, blood
sampled, and gonadal biopsied. Early
life stages of Atlantic sturgeon would be
intentionally collected and killed to
document occurrence of spawning in
systems. Up to one sturgeon of each
species may unintentionally die
annually during research.
File No. 20651: Anthony Vitale,
Entergy Indian Point, 450 Broadway,
Buchanan, NY 10511, requests a permit
to conduct research on Atlantic and
shortnose sturgeon for the Hudson River
Biological Monitoring Program
(HRBMP) using trawls and seines. The
HRBMP takes place within in the
Hudson River estuary and involves
fisheries sampling to monitor
ichthyoplankton and juvenile fish
abundance and distribution from
Battery Park, Manhattan, upstream to
Troy Dam during March through
October, and in portions of New York
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Harbor during November through April.
Upon capture, individual fish would be
measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue
sampled, and photographed. Early life
stages of each species would be
intentionally collected and killed to
document occurrence of spawning in
systems.
Dated: January 11, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–00956 Filed 1–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF148
Marine Mammals; File No. 20294
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
Robert DiGiovanni, Jr., 6 Wakefield Rd.
Hampton Bays, New York 11946, has
applied in due form for a permit to
conduct research on North Atlantic right
whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and 44
other protected marine mammal and sea
turtle species.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
February 17, 2017.
ADDRESSES: The application 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. 20294 from the list of
available applications.
These documents are also available
upon written request or by appointment
in the Permits and Conservation
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376.
Written comments on this application
should be submitted to the Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division, at
the address listed above. Comments may
also be submitted by facsimile to (301)
713–0376, or by email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please
include the File No. in the subject line
of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public
hearing should submit a written request
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation
Division at the address listed above. The
request should set forth the specific
reasons why a hearing on this
application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Courtney Smith or Amy Hapeman, (301)
427–8401.
The
subject permit is 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).
The applicant proposes to conduct
aerial, vessel, and ground surveys of
North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena
glacialis) and 44 other protected
cetaceans, pinnipeds, and sea turtles in
the Mid-Atlantic U.S. waters, from
Massachusetts to North Carolina. Nine
of the target species are threatened or
endangered: North Atlantic right, blue
(Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B.
physalus), sei (B. borealis), and sperm
(Physeter macrocephalus) whales; and
green (Chelonia mydas), Kemp’s ridley
(Lepidochelys kempii), loggerhead
(Caretta caretta), and leatherback
(Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles.
Surveys will be conducted using fixed
wing aircraft and vessels to assess
seasonal abundance and distribution of
marine mammals in the area. Ground
surveys will be conducted on foot and
with remote cameras to obtain counts of
seals throughout different tidal cycles
and to document prevalence of human
interaction around seal haul-out sites
accessible to the public. Seal scat will
be collected for health assessment
studies. The permit would be valid for
five years.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
determination has been made that the
activity proposed is categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
Concurrent with the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register,
NMFS is forwarding copies of the
application to the Marine Mammal
Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5536-5538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00956]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF116
Endangered Species; File Nos. 19641, 17861, 20314, 20340, 20347,
20351, 20528, 20548, and 20651
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that nine applicants have applied in
due form for permits to take Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus
oxyrinchus) and shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for
purposes of scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before February 17, 2017.
[[Page 5537]]
ADDRESSES: The applications 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
corresponding File No. from the list of available applications.
These documents are also available upon written request or by
appointment in the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver
Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376.
Written comments on the applications should be submitted to the
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by
email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include the File No. in the
subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons
why a hearing on the application(s) would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, (301)
427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are requested under the
authority of 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
parts 222-226).
Each application is summarized below. Please refer to the
associated application for specific take numbers. Permits may be valid
for up to 10 years.
File No. 19641: Tom Savory, Connecticut Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection, Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, CT
06371, requests a permit to collect, examine and tag shortnose and
Atlantic sturgeon in Connecticut waters. Shortnose sturgeon research
would be conducted in the Connecticut River from the mouth to the
Holyoke Dam. Researchers would monitor for presence, abundance, age and
sex composition, habitat utilization, and seasonal movement. Atlantic
and shortnose sturgeon would be measured, tissue sampled, passive
integrated transponder (PIT) tagged, photographed, and weighed prior to
release. A subset of fish also would be fin ray sampled, blood sampled,
acoustic tagged, and gastric lavaged. Up to three sturgeon of each
species may unintentionally die annually during research.
File No. 17861: Douglas Peterson, University of Georgia Warnell
School of Forestry and Natural Resources Fisheries Division, Athens, GA
30602, requests a permit to better understand the ecology, population
dynamics, and status of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in Georgia and
Florida river systems. Spring and fall sampling would occur for
Atlantic and shortnose. Fish would be PIT tagged, tissue sampled,
measured, and weighed prior to release. A subset of fish would be
acoustically tagged, fin ray sampled for aging, blood sampled, gonadal
sampled, and endoscopic sex determination. Early life stages of each
species would be intentionally collected and killed to document
occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to eight Atlantic sturgeon and
six shortnose sturgeon may unintentionally die annually in all river
systems.
File No. 20314: Albert Spells, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
11110 Kimages Road, Charles City 23030, requests a permit to conduct
research in Maryland and Virginia tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay as
well as within the Chesapeake Bay proper. The objectives of the
research are to (1) identify the overall health of the DPS, (2) monitor
reproductive success, spawning adult and juvenile abundance in
tributaries, and (3) evaluate movement patterns and habitat preferences
in and between tributaries of the Bay. Sampling gear would include
anchored/floating gillnets and other nets. Fish would be PIT tagged,
tissue sampled, measured, and weighed prior to release. Individual fish
would receive a T-bar, acoustic, and/or satellite tag. A subset of fish
would be fin ray sampled. Early life stages of Atlantic sturgeon would
be intentionally collected and killed to document occurrence of
spawning in systems. Up to two Atlantic sturgeon may unintentionally
die annually during research.
File No. 20340: Kim McKown, New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation, 205 Belle Mead Road, East Setuaket, NY
11733, requests a permit to conduct research on Atlantic and shortnose
sturgeon to determine movement of adult sturgeon in the Hyde Park area,
movement of age-1 sturgeon in the Hudson River, population estimates,
and habitat utilization. Fish would be collected by gill nets year-
round during ice-free periods. Studies would involve acoustic telemetry
and mark-recapture. Upon capture, fish would be measured, weighed, PIT
tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed. A subset of fish would be
externally and/or internally tagged, fin ray sampled for aging, gastric
lavaged, gonadal biopsied, and blood sampled. Early life stages of
Atlantic sturgeon would be intentionally collected and killed to
document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to four Atlantic
sturgeon and three shortnose sturgeon may unintentionally die annually
during research.
File 20347: Gayle Zydlewski, University of Maine, requests a permit
to conduct research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to (1) determine
spawning periodicity and age class distribution, and (2) identify
critical habitat and movement within and between river systems.
Research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the Gulf of Maine would
continue in several river systems: Penobscot River, Kennebec River,
Saco River, and Merrimack River. All sampling would occur in riverine
or near coastal areas annually. Adults, subadults, and juveniles would
be sampled with gill nets, trammel nets, trot lines, and a miniature
Missouri trawl in the spring, summer, and fall annually. Upon capture,
fish would be measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue sampled, and
photographed. A subset of fish would be acoustically tagged, fin ray,
apical scute sampled, gastric lavaged, borescopy, and blood sampled.
Early life stages of each species would be intentionally collected and
killed to document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to four
sturgeon of each species may unintentionally die annually during
research.
File No. 20351: Michael Frisk, the School of Marine and Atmospheric
Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, requests a
permit to conduct research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to
continue a long-term study examining the movements among and within
Atlantic sturgeon marine aggregation areas located in New York, New
Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut waters and to conduct research to
examine (1) sex-specific movements, (2) genetic stock identification,
and (3) acquisition of diet, age, and parasite-prevalence data.
Additional research would target adults within the marine aggregation
areas, and target early life stage and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose
sturgeon within riverine and estuarine areas of the Hudson and Delaware
Rivers. Upon capture, fish would be measured, weighed, PIT tagged,
tissue sampled, and photographed. A subset of fish would be externally
and/or internally tagged, fin ray sampled, gastric lavaged, gonadal
sampled, apical scute sampled, ultrasound, and blood sampled. Early
[[Page 5538]]
life stages of each species would be intentionally collected and killed
to document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to three Atlantic
sturgeon and two shortnose sturgeon may unintentionally die annually
during research.
File No. 20528: Bill Post, South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, requests a
permit to conduct research on Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon to
determine their presence, status, health, habitat use, and movements in
South Carolina waters. Studies would involve using gill nets to capture
fish. Upon capture, fish would be measured, weighed, PIT tagged, tissue
sampled, and photographed. A subset of individuals would be
acoustically tagged, fin ray sampled, and gonadal biopsied. Early life
stages of each species would be intentionally collected and killed to
document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to two sturgeon of each
species may unintentionally die annually during research.
File No. 20548: Dewayne Fox, Delaware State University, Department
of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1200 North DuPont Highway, Dover,
DE 19901, requests a permit to conduct research on Atlantic and
shortnose sturgeon using gillnets, D-ring nets, egg pad collectors,
biotelemetry, and hydroacoustic tools in the Delaware River/Estuary,
Hudson River/Estuary, and coastal environment between Virginia and New
York to develop quantitative estimates of run size, recruitment, and
habitat assessment. Upon capture, fish would be measured, weighed, PIT
tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed. A subset of individuals would
be externally and/or internally tagged, fin ray sampled, blood sampled,
and gonadal biopsied. Early life stages of Atlantic sturgeon would be
intentionally collected and killed to document occurrence of spawning
in systems. Up to one sturgeon of each species may unintentionally die
annually during research.
File No. 20651: Anthony Vitale, Entergy Indian Point, 450 Broadway,
Buchanan, NY 10511, requests a permit to conduct research on Atlantic
and shortnose sturgeon for the Hudson River Biological Monitoring
Program (HRBMP) using trawls and seines. The HRBMP takes place within
in the Hudson River estuary and involves fisheries sampling to monitor
ichthyoplankton and juvenile fish abundance and distribution from
Battery Park, Manhattan, upstream to Troy Dam during March through
October, and in portions of New York Harbor during November through
April. Upon capture, individual fish would be measured, weighed, PIT
tagged, tissue sampled, and photographed. Early life stages of each
species would be intentionally collected and killed to document
occurrence of spawning in systems.
Dated: January 11, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-00956 Filed 1-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
