[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 186 (Monday, September 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 57677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21598]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 092004C]


Endangered Species; File No. 1446

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

ACTION: Issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that North Carolina Division of Marine 
Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC, has been issued a permit to 
take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and 
leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles for purposes of 
scientific research.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices:
    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
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; phone (727)570-5301; fax (727)570-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Hubard or Patrick Opay, 
(301)713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 3, 2003 notice was published in 
the Federal Register (68 FR 52387) that a request for a scientific 
research permit to take loggerhead, green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, 
and leatherback sea turtles had been submitted by the above-named 
organization. The requested permit has been issued 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).
    Researchers will capture sea turtles using two different kinds of 
gillnets. Captured turtles will be identified to species, measured, 
photographed, and flipper and passive integrated transponder (PIT) 
tagged. The primary objective of the research is to identify gillnet 
types that will reduce the number of sea turtle interactions, while 
maintaining targeted catch of the commercial fishery. One modified 
gillnet design will be evaluated during this study with a traditional 
flounder gillnet used as a control. Of the captured turtles, nine of 
the Kemp's/loggerhead/green turtle aggregate, one hawksbill and one 
leatherback may be mortalities. This technology may prove transferable 
to other fisheries within North Carolina and the east coast. NMFS 
proposes to authorize these activities until December 31, 2004.
    Issuance of this permit, as required by the ESA, was based on a 
finding that such permit (1) was applied for in good faith, (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered and threatened 
species which are the subject of this permit, and (3) is consistent 
with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA.

    Dated: September 21, 2004.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-21598 Filed 9-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S