[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14650-14651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6261]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA299


Endangered Species; Permit No. 13330-01

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of modification request.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given the following applicant has applied in 
due form for a modification to a permit (Permit No. 13330) taking 
smalltooth sawfish for purposes of scientific research: NMFS Southeast 
Fisheries Center (SEFSC) Bonnie Ponwith, PhD, Responsible Party; 75 
Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before April 18, 2011.

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. 13330-01 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    <bullet> 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) 713-0376; and
    <bullet> Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint 
Petersburg, Florida 33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division.
    <bullet> By e-mail to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6e2023283d403e1c5f2d0103030b001a1d2e00010f0f40090118"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="125c5f54413c426023517d7f7f777c6661527c7d73733c757d64">[email protected]</span></a> (include the File 
No. in the subject line),
    <bullet> By facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or
    <bullet> At the address listed above.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
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: Malcolm Mohead or Colette Cairns, 
(301) 713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is 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 
222-226).
    The primary objective of the proposed research would remain 
unchanged from the original permit: to collect data on the biology, 
distribution and abundance of the endangered smalltooth sawfish to 
facilitate recovery of the species. Sampling with the goal of taking 45 
smalltooth sawfish per year is currently authorized by longline, 
gillnet, seine net, drum (set) lines, or rod and reel throughout 
Florida's coastal waters, but primarily in the region of the Florida 
coast from Naples to Key West, encompassing the Ten Thousand Islands. 
All captured sawfish are also authorized to be handled, measured, 
tagged, sampled, and released alive. Tagging methods include rototags 
(fin

[[Page 14651]]

tags), plastic headed dart tags, umbrella dart tags, Passive Integrated 
Transponder (PIT) tags, acoustic tags (transmitters), Pop-Up Archival 
transmitting (PAT) tags, and Smart Position Only Transmitting (SPOT) 
tags. Sampling also includes a small genetic tissue fin clip and blood 
sample. Finally, dead sawfish acquired through strandings or from law 
enforcement confiscations are also measured and sampled for scientific 
purposes.
    To increase tag retention and provide less invasive tagging 
techniques, the applicant is now requesting to replace plastic 
rototags, used to secure VEMCO acoustic transmitters, with neoprene 
clasp tags; and nylon umbrella darts, used to secure PAT tags, with 
dorsal fin harnesses. SPOT tags would also be excluded as a tagging 
method. Better data collection could provide increased insight into 
habitat usage pattern and accomplish actions items identified in the 
recovery plan for the species.

    Dated: March 11, 2011.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6261 Filed 3-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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