Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 37 / Friday, February 26, 2021 / Notices 11729 

or hooked protected species, such as sea 

turtles, marine mammals, smalltooth 

sawfish, Atlantic sturgeon, and 

prohibited sharks. In an effort to 

improve reporting, the proper 

identification of protected species and 

prohibited sharks will also be taught at 

these workshops. Additionally, 

individuals attending these workshops 

will gain a better understanding of the 

requirements for participating in these 

fisheries. The overall goal of these 

workshops is to provide participants 

with the skills needed to reduce the 

mortality of protected species and 

prohibited sharks, which may prevent 

additional regulations on these fisheries 

in the future. 

(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) 

Dated: February 23, 2021. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–04018 Filed 2–25–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA897] 

Marine Mammals; File Nos. 22306, 

23675, 24334, and 24378 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

four applicants have applied in due 

form for a permit to conduct scientific 

research on 58 species of marine 

mammals. The species taken during 

research activities may include the 

following endangered or threatened 

cetaceans: Beluga whale 

(Delphinapterus leucas); blue whale 

(Balaenoptera musculus); bowhead 

whale (Balaena mysticetus); fin whale 

(B. physalus); gray whale (Eschrichtius 

robustus); humpback whale (Megaptera 

novaeangliae); killer whale (Orcinus 

orca); North Pacific right whale 

(Eubalaena japonica); sei whale 

(Balaenoptera borealis); sperm whale 

(Physeter microcephalus); and Southern 

right whale (E. australis); and the 

following endangered or threatened 

pinnipeds: Bearded seal (Erignathus 

barbatus); Guadalupe fur seal 

(Arctocephalus townsendi); ringed seal 

(Phoca hispida spp.); and Steller sea 

lion (Eumetopias jubatus). See the 

applications for a complete list of 

species by stock or listing unit. 

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email 

comments must be received on or before 

March 29, 2021. 

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 applicable File No. from the 

list of available applications. These 

documents are also available upon 

written request via email to 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. 

Written comments on these 

applications should be submitted via 

email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@

noaa.gov. Please include File No. 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 

the application would be appropriate. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D. (File Nos. 

22306 and 23675), Amy Hapeman (File 

No. 24334), or Courtney Smith, Ph.D. 

(File No. 24378), (301) 427–8401. 

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.), the regulations governing the 

taking, importing, and exporting of 

endangered and threatened species (50 

CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal 

Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 

et seq.). 

File No. 22306: NMFS, Southwest 

Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla 

Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, 

(Responsible Party: David Weller, 

Ph.D.), proposes to conduct research on 

48 species of cetaceans and 6 species of 

pinnipeds in U.S. and international 

waters of the Pacific and Southern 

Oceans. The objectives of the research 

are to monitor and understand trends 

and population dynamics of marine 

mammals by collecting data on 

abundance, distribution, density, 

survival, immigration/emigration, 

reproduction, health and condition, 

movement patterns, dive behavior, 

acoustics, demography and stock 

structure. Cetaceans may be taken 

during vessel and aerial surveys, 

including unmanned aircraft systems 

(UAS), for counts, photo-identification, 

photography, videography, 

photogrammetry, behavioral 

observations, passive acoustic 

recordings, biological sampling (exhaled 

air, feces, sloughed skin, and skin and 

blubber biopsies), and tagging (suctioncup and dart/barb). Pinnipeds may be 

taken during manned and unmanned 

aerial and ground surveys for counts, 

photo-identification, photography, 

videography, photogrammetry, and 

collection of scat and spew. Marine 

mammal parts may also be imported, 

exported, salvaged, or received for 

analysis and curation. See the 

application for complete numbers of 

animals requested by species, life stage, 

and procedure. The permit is requested 

for five years. 

File No. 23675: Brianna Witteveen, 

Ph.D., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 

118 Trident Way, Kodiak, AK 99615, 

proposes to conduct research in the 

North Pacific Ocean in Alaska focusing 

on nine cetacean species. The objectives 

of the research are to advance 

knowledge and improve understanding 

of the foraging behavior, prey use, and 

habitat overlap among sympatric 

cetaceans throughout their habitat. 

Cetaceans may be taken during vessel 

surveys for photo-identification, 

behavioral observations, active acoustic 

sonar for prey mapping, biological 

sampling (feces, sloughed skin, 

predation remains, and skin and blubber 

biopsies), and suction-cup tagging. Six 

additional marine mammal species may 

be unintentionally harassed during 

research targeting cetaceans. See the 

application for complete numbers of 

animals requested by species, life stage, 

and procedure. The permit is requested 

for 5 years. 

File No. 24334: Alaska Department of 

Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, 

AK 99802, (Responsible Party: Lori 

Quakenbush, Ph.D.) proposes to 

conduct research on five whale species 

in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort 

seas (U.S. and international waters) 

adjacent to Alaska. Research topics 

would include movements, habitat use, 

migration routes, body condition, 

predation, stock structure, population 

abundance, behavior relative to feeding, 

social interactions, human disturbance, 

and social structure. Researchers would 

conduct vessel surveys for tagging (dart/ 

barb, deep implant, suction cup, or 

dorsal ridge attachments depending on 

species), biopsy sampling, photoidentification, and UAS surveys for all 

species. The applicant also requests to 

conduct manned aerial surveys and 

captures for tagging with biological 

sample collection of four beluga whale 

stocks. The applicant also requests 


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11730 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 37 / Friday, February 26, 2021 / Notices 

export and import of skin and blubber 

for the target species. Non-target seals 

and beluga whales may be 

unintentionally harassed, and seals may 

be incidentally captured during research 

activities. Up to three unintentional 

beluga mortalities may occur during 

captures over the duration of the permit. 

See the application for complete 

numbers of animals requested by 

species, life stage, and procedure. The 

permit is requested for 5 years. 

File No. 24378: The University of 

Alaska Southeast, 1332 Seward Ave, 

Sitka, AK 99835 (Responsible Party: Jan 

Straley) proposes to conduct research on 

18 species of cetaceans in Alaska, 

focusing on three species of large 

whales. The objective of the research is 

to further the biological understanding 

of Alaskan cetaceans by evaluating 

species abundance, population and 

stock structure, life history parameters, 

foraging behavior and prey 

specialization, social behavior, seasonal 

movements and migrations, and 

depredation interactions with longline 

fishing vessels. Research methods 

include close approach by vessels and 

UAS to conduct photo-identification, 

behavioral observations, underwater 

photography/video, active acoustic 

sonar for prey mapping, tagging 

(suction-cup and dart/barb), biological 

sampling (prey samples, exhaled air, 

sloughed skin, feces), and collection of 

water samples for environmental DNA 

(eDNA). Some marine mammal parts 

may be exported for analysis. See the 

application for complete numbers of 

animals requested by species, life stage, 

and procedure. The permit is requested 

for 5 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 

proposed activities are 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. 

Dated: February 23, 2021. 

Amy Sloan, 

Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–04055 Filed 2–25–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA878] 

Marine Mammals; File No. 24365 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., University of 

California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 

92093–0204, has applied in due form for 

a permit to conduct research on 

California sea lions (Zalophus 

californianus). 

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email 

comments must be received on or before 

March 29, 2021. 

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. 24365 from the list of 

available applications. These 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. 24365 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: Sara 

Young or Dr. Shasta McClenahan, (301) 

427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.) and the 

regulations governing the taking and 

importing of marine mammals (50 CFR 

part 216). 

The purpose of this research is to 

determine the role of physiological 

responses, oxygen store depletion, and 

eventual anaerobic metabolism in dive 

behavior and foraging ecology of 

California sea lions. On an annual basis, 

up to 15 adult females will be captured 

and instrumented to measure 

physiological responses (heart rate, 

stroke rate, oxygen depletion, 

temperature, inspired lung volumes and 

lactate accumulation) during dives. Two 

unintentional mortalities are requested 

annually. Up to 15 pups of the adult 

females used in the research, may also 

be marked with a neoprene patch. Take 

activities for adult animals include: 

Capture, restraint, anesthesia, internal 

and external instrumentation, blood 

sampling, flipper tagging, clipping 

vibrissae, and weighing, as well as 

necropsy and salvage of parts from any 

unintentional mortalities. Research will 

be conducted on San Nicolas Island, 

California. Re-captures for instrument 

removal will occur on San Nicolas 

Island. Takes of other species annually 

may include temporary disturbance of 

100 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), 200 

northern elephant seals (Mirounga 

angustirostris), 4,000 California sea 

lions (Zalophus californianus), and 30 

northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) 

during captures. 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. 

Dated: February 22, 2021. 

Amy Sloan, 

Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03980 Filed 2–25–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA893] 

Marine Mammals; File No. 24395 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Lorrie Rea, Ph.D., University of Alaska 

Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop ELIF Suite 

240, Fairbanks, AK 99775, has applied 

in due form for a permit to receive, 

import, and export pinniped parts for 

scientific research. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES