Marine Mammals; File No. 23188, 80694-80695 [2023-25574]

Download as PDF 80694 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Notices the total catch, refining the data filtering and index development procedures, and more fully incorporating information on Deep 7 bottomfish species life-history characteristics into the assessment model. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD541] Pacific Island Fisheries; Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS will convene a Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) of a benchmark stock assessment for the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep 7 Bottomfish Complex. DATES: The WPSAR meeting will be held between December 11 and December 15, 2023. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates and times and the daily agenda. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be open to the public and held in-person the NMFS Honolulu Service Center at Pier 38, 1129 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 220, Honolulu, HI 96817. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: T. Todd Jones, Director, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division (FRMD), telephone: (808) 725– 5713, or todd.jones@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Scientists from the NMFS PIFSC conducted a benchmark stock assessment of the MHI Deep 7 bottomfish complex. This benchmark assessment built on previous assessments that incorporated knowledge from the fishing community for filtering commercial catch and effort data and incorporated a fisheryindependent index of relative abundance. A surplus production model that explicitly accounted for both process and observation errors, and directly estimated maximum sustainable yield (MSY)-based reference points as well as trajectories and projections of biomass and harvest rate was used to determine stock status of Deep7 complex. New modeling software was used to run the production model and estimate the trajectory and status of the Deep 7 complex. In addition to updated modeling software, a number of improvements relative to the 2018 benchmark stock assessment and 2021 update assessment were made for the current benchmark stock assessment. These changes include re-evaluating the contribution of non-commercial catch to ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Nov 17, 2023 Jkt 262001 [FR Doc. 2023–25535 Filed 11–17–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Meeting Agenda for WPSAR Review AGENCY: SUMMARY: Dated: November 14, 2023. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. The meeting schedule and agenda are as follows: Monday, December 11, 2023, 8:30 a.m.– 4 p.m. 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Background information a. Objectives and Terms of Reference b. Fishery Management 3. History of stock assessments and reviews 4. Stock assessment input data a. State of Hawaii Fisher and Dealer Reporting Systems b. Non-commercial catch c. Life history information d. Fishery-independent survey 5. Public Comment (3:30 p.m.) Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 8:30 a.m.– 4 p.m. 1. Presentation and review of stock assessment 2. Public comment (3:30 p.m.) Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. 1. Continue review of stock assessment Thursday, December 14, 2023, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. 1. Continue review of stock assessment (morning) 2. Public comment (11 a.m.) 3. WPSAR Review Panel discussions (afternoon, closed to the public) Friday, December 15, 2023 1. Continue WPSAR panel discussions (morning, closed to the public) 2. WPSAR Panel Report on Review Outcomes and Recommendations (1 p.m.–4 p.m.) 3. Adjourn The agenda order may change. The meeting will run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Please direct requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids to T. Todd Jones, Director, PIFSC FRMD, telephone: (808) 725–5713, or todd.jones@noaa.gov at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD538] Marine Mammals; File No. 23188 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for a permit amendment. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa Cruz, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (Responsible Party: Daniel Costa, Ph.D.), has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 23188– 03. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 20, 2023. ADDRESSES: The application is 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. 23188 from the list of available applications. The application and related documents are also available upon written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ noaa.gov. Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include File No. 23188 in the subject line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ noaa.gov. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Amy Sloan, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 23188–03 is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM 20NON1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Notices Permit No. 23188, issued on September 25, 2020 (85 FR 63524), authorizes the permit holder to conduct scientific research on northern elephant seals (NES; Mirounga angustirostris) in California. The permit activities continue a long-term research program started in 1968 to study NES population growth and status, reproduction, behavioral and physiological adaptations for diving and fasting, general physiology and metabolism, and sensory physiology. Authorized activities include behavioral observations, marking, capture, biological sampling (including skin, blubber, and muscle biopsies), active and passive acoustics, instrumentation, translocation studies, short-term captive holding for laboratory studies, use of hormone challenges and standard clinical tracer techniques, and unmanned aircraft system surveys. The permit authorizes unintentional mortalities of up to 5 NES annually during research, and euthanasia of up to 10 moribund or abandoned NES pups annually. Three amendments to the permit were issued to: increase take numbers and add a new study area (No. 23188–01; April 27, 2021); add new study areas and update methods for acoustic studies (No. 23188–02; November 19, 2021); and update methods for biological sampling and instrumentation (No. 23188–03; February 2, 2022). The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include authorization for additional reproductive studies to investigate embryonic diapause in NES. Over a 2year study period, 39 adult females would be captured, anesthetized, marked, sampled, and instrumented, as currently authorized. Researchers would use a transrectal ultrasound to check for pregnancy and non-pregnant females would then have uterine endoscopy, cytology, lavage, and biopsy sampling. The lavage and biopsy procedures may result in egg, sperm, or blastocyst removal from the uterus. A subset of these females may be captured and sampled twice per year. An additional 390 NES may be unintentionally harassed during these reproductive studies. The amendment would be valid for the duration of the permit, until September 30, 2025. A draft environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), to examine whether significant environmental impacts could result from issuance of the proposed scientific research permit amendment. The draft EA is available for review and comment VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Nov 17, 2023 Jkt 262001 simultaneous with the scientific research permit amendment application. 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: November 14, 2023. Julia M. Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–25574 Filed 11–17–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD543] Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. AGENCY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee will hold a public webinar meeting. DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, December 7, 2023 from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. EDT. For agenda details, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. SUMMARY: The meeting will be held via webinar. Connection information will be posted to the calendar prior to the meeting at www.mafmc.org. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331; www.mafmc.org. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: (302) 526–5255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee will meet via webinar to continue discussions from their November 13–14, 2023 meeting related to 2024–2025 recreational management measures for summer flounder and scup and 2024 recreational management measures for black sea bass. Specifically, the Monitoring Committee will continue PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 80695 discussions to recommend the appropriate non-preferred coastwide and precautionary default measures (e.g., possession limits, fish size limits, seasons) associated with conservation equivalency for summer flounder and black sea bass, and revisit additional information in support of their recommendation for scup federal waters measures in 2024. Meeting materials will be posted to www.mafmc.org. Special Accommodations The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: November 14, 2023. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–25526 Filed 11–17–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Patent and Trademark Resource Center Metrics United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651–0068 (Patent and Trademark Resource Center Metrics). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the information collection to OMB. DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information collection must be received on or before January 19, 2024. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by any of the following methods. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. • Email: InformationCollection@ uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0068 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM 20NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80694-80695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25574]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD538]


Marine Mammals; File No. 23188

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

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

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Institute of Marine Sciences, 
University of California at Santa Cruz, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, 
CA 95060 (Responsible Party: Daniel Costa, Ph.D.), has applied for an 
amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 23188-03.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 20, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: The application is 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. 23188 from the 
list of available applications. The application and related 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. 23188 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: Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Amy 
Sloan, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 23188-03 
is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing 
the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).

[[Page 80695]]

    Permit No. 23188, issued on September 25, 2020 (85 FR 63524), 
authorizes the permit holder to conduct scientific research on northern 
elephant seals (NES; Mirounga angustirostris) in California. The permit 
activities continue a long-term research program started in 1968 to 
study NES population growth and status, reproduction, behavioral and 
physiological adaptations for diving and fasting, general physiology 
and metabolism, and sensory physiology. Authorized activities include 
behavioral observations, marking, capture, biological sampling 
(including skin, blubber, and muscle biopsies), active and passive 
acoustics, instrumentation, translocation studies, short-term captive 
holding for laboratory studies, use of hormone challenges and standard 
clinical tracer techniques, and unmanned aircraft system surveys. The 
permit authorizes unintentional mortalities of up to 5 NES annually 
during research, and euthanasia of up to 10 moribund or abandoned NES 
pups annually. Three amendments to the permit were issued to: increase 
take numbers and add a new study area (No. 23188-01; April 27, 2021); 
add new study areas and update methods for acoustic studies (No. 23188-
02; November 19, 2021); and update methods for biological sampling and 
instrumentation (No. 23188-03; February 2, 2022). The permit holder is 
requesting the permit be amended to include authorization for 
additional reproductive studies to investigate embryonic diapause in 
NES. Over a 2-year study period, 39 adult females would be captured, 
anesthetized, marked, sampled, and instrumented, as currently 
authorized. Researchers would use a transrectal ultrasound to check for 
pregnancy and non-pregnant females would then have uterine endoscopy, 
cytology, lavage, and biopsy sampling. The lavage and biopsy procedures 
may result in egg, sperm, or blastocyst removal from the uterus. A 
subset of these females may be captured and sampled twice per year. An 
additional 390 NES may be unintentionally harassed during these 
reproductive studies. The amendment would be valid for the duration of 
the permit, until September 30, 2025.
    A draft environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared in 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), to examine whether significant environmental 
impacts could result from issuance of the proposed scientific research 
permit amendment. The draft EA is available for review and comment 
simultaneous with the scientific research permit amendment application.
    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: November 14, 2023.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25574 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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