Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2024 / Notices 1905 

as described in the Description of 

Proposed Activity section of this notice 

is planned or (2) the activities as 

described in the Description of 

Proposed Activity section of this notice 

would not be completed by the time the 

IHA expires and a renewal would allow 

for completion of the activities beyond 

that described in the Dates and Duration 

section of this notice, provided all of the 

following conditions are met: 

• A request for renewal is received no 

later than 60 days prior to the needed 

renewal IHA effective date (recognizing 

that the renewal IHA expiration date 

cannot extend beyond one year from 

expiration of the initial IHA). 

• The request for renewal must 

include the following: 

(1) An explanation that the activities 

to be conducted under the requested 

renewal IHA are identical to the 

activities analyzed under the initial 

IHA, are a subset of the activities, or 

include changes so minor (e.g., 

reduction in pile size) that the changes 

do not affect the previous analyses, 

mitigation and monitoring 

requirements, or take estimates (with 

the exception of reducing the type or 

amount of take). 

(2) A preliminary monitoring report 

showing the results of the required 

monitoring to date and an explanation 

showing that the monitoring results do 

not indicate impacts of a scale or nature 

not previously analyzed or authorized. 

Upon review of the request for 

renewal, the status of the affected 

species or stocks, and any other 

pertinent information, NMFS 

determines that there are no more than 

minor changes in the activities, the 

mitigation and monitoring measures 

will remain the same and appropriate, 

and the findings in the initial IHA 

remain valid. 

Dated: January 5, 2024. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–00390 Filed 1–10–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD640] 

Taking and Importing Marine 

Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 

Incidental to Geophysical Surveys 

Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the 

Gulf of Mexico 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of issuance of Letter of 

Authorization. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act 

(MMPA), as amended, its implementing 

regulations, and NMFS’ MMPA 

Regulations for Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to Geophysical 

Surveys Related to Oil and Gas 

Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, 

notification is hereby given that a Letter 

of Authorization (LOA) has been issued 

to Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (Chevron) for the 

take of marine mammals incidental to 

geophysical survey activity in the Gulf 

of Mexico. 

DATES: The LOA is effective from 

January 5, 2024 through February 19, 

2024. 

ADDRESSES: The LOA, LOA request, and 

supporting documentation are available 

online at: https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ 

incidental-take-authorization-oil-andgas-industry-geophysical-surveyactivity-gulf-mexico. In case of problems 

accessing these documents, please call 

the contact listed below (see FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jenna Harlacher, Office of Protected 

Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the 

MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct 

the Secretary of Commerce to allow, 

upon request, the incidental, but not 

intentional, taking of small numbers of 

marine mammals by U.S. citizens who 

engage in a specified activity (other than 

commercial fishing) within a specified 

geographical region if certain findings 

are made and either regulations are 

issued or, if the taking is limited to 

harassment, a notice of a proposed 

authorization is provided to the public 

for review. 

An authorization for incidental 

takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 

that the taking will have a negligible 

impact on the species or stock(s), will 

not have an unmitigable adverse impact 

on the availability of the species or 

stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 

relevant), and if the permissible 

methods of taking and requirements 

pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring 

and reporting of such takings are set 

forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible 

impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact 

resulting from the specified activity that 

cannot be reasonably expected to, and is 

not reasonably likely to, adversely affect 

the species or stock through effects on 

annual rates of recruitment or survival. 

Except with respect to certain 

activities not pertinent here, the MMPA 

defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: any act of 

pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) 

has the potential to injure a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has 

the potential to disturb a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild by causing disruption of behavioral 

patterns, including, but not limited to, 

migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, 

feeding, or sheltering (Level B 

harassment). 

On January 19, 2021, we issued a final 

rule with regulations to govern the 

unintentional taking of marine 

mammals incidental to geophysical 

survey activities conducted by oil and 

gas industry operators, and those 

persons authorized to conduct activities 

on their behalf (collectively ‘‘industry 

operators’’), in U.S. waters of the Gulf of 

Mexico (GOM) over the course of 5 

years (86 FR 5322, January 19, 2021). 

The rule was based on our findings that 

the total taking from the specified 

activities over the 5-year period will 

have a negligible impact on the affected 

species or stock(s) of marine mammals 

and will not have an unmitigable 

adverse impact on the availability of 

those species or stocks for subsistence 

uses. The rule became effective on April 

19, 2021. 

Our regulations at 50 CFR 217.180 et 

seq. allow for the issuance of LOAs to 

industry operators for the incidental 

take of marine mammals during 

geophysical survey activities and 

prescribe the permissible methods of 

taking and other means of effecting the 

least practicable adverse impact on 

marine mammal species or stocks and 

their habitat (often referred to as 

mitigation), as well as requirements 

pertaining to the monitoring and 

reporting of such taking. Under 50 CFR 

217.186(e), issuance of an LOA shall be 

based on a determination that the level 

of taking will be consistent with the 

findings made for the total taking 

allowable under these regulations and a 

determination that the amount of take 

authorized under the LOA is of no more 

than small numbers. 

Summary of Request and Analysis 

This LOA covers work that was not 

completed under Chevron’s 2023 LOA 

that expired on January 2, 2024 (88 FR 

40209, June 21, 2023). Chevron 

requested an additional LOA covering 

26 days of work. There are no other 

changes from the previously analyzed 

and issued LOA (88 FR 40209, June 21, 

2023) other than a reduction in the 


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1For purposes of acoustic exposure modeling, the 

GOM was divided into seven zones. Zone 1 is not 

included in the geographic scope of the rule. 

2For purposes of acoustic exposure modeling, 

seasons include Winter (December–March) and 

Summer (April–November). 

3However, note that these species have been 

observed over a greater range of water depths in the 

GOM than have killer whales. 

amount of surveys, reflecting the 

remaining portion of the original survey 

plan. 

Chevron plans to conduct a threedimensional (3D) ocean bottom node 

(OBN) survey over Walker Ridge Lease 

Blocks 758, 759, and 802, and the 

surrounding lease blocks, with 

approximate water depths ranging from 

approximately 2,000 to 2,400 meters 

(m). Chevron anticipates using a single 

dual source vessel, towing airgun array 

sources consisting of 42 elements, with 

a total volume of 5,380 cubic inches 

(in3). Please see Chevron’s previous 

LOA application for additional detail. 

Consistent with the preamble to the 

final rule, the survey effort proposed by 

Chevron in its LOA request was used to 

develop LOA-specific take estimates 

based on the acoustic exposure 

modeling results described in the 

preamble (86 FR 5398, January 19, 

2021). In order to generate the 

appropriate take number for 

authorization, the following information 

was considered: (1) survey type; (2) 

location (by modeling zone 1); (3) 

number of days; and (4) season.2 The 

acoustic exposure modeling performed 

in support of the rule provides 24-hour 

exposure estimates for each species, 

specific to each modeled survey type in 

each zone and season. 

No 3D OBN surveys were included in 

the modeled survey types, and use of 

existing proxies (i.e., 2D, 3D NAZ, 3D 

WAZ, Coil) is generally conservative for 

use in evaluation of 3D OBN survey 

effort, largely due to the greater area 

covered by the modeled proxies. 

Summary descriptions of these modeled 

survey geometries are available in the 

preamble to the proposed rule (83 FR 

29212, 29220, June 22, 2018). Coil was 

selected as the best available proxy 

survey type in this case because the 

spatial coverage of the planned survey 

is most similar to the coil survey 

pattern. The planned 3D OBN survey 

will involve a single source vessel 

sailing along closely spaced survey lines 

that are approximately 100–150 m apart 

and approximately 40 kilometers (km) 

in length. The coil survey pattern was 

assumed to cover approximately 144 

kilometers squared (km2) per day 

(compared with approximately 795 km2, 

199 km2, and 845 km2 per day for the 

2D, 3D NAZ, and 3D WAZ survey 

patterns, respectively). Among the 

different parameters of the modeled 

survey patterns (e.g., area covered, line 

spacing, number of sources, shot 

interval, total simulated pulses), NMFS 

considers area covered per day to be 

most influential on daily modeled 

exposures exceeding Level B 

harassment criteria. Although Chevron 

is not proposing to perform a survey 

using the coil geometry, its planned 3D 

OBN survey is expected to cover 

approximately 10 km2 per day, meaning 

that the coil proxy is most 

representative of the effort planned by 

Chevron in terms of predicted Level B 

harassment exposures. 

All available acoustic exposure 

modeling results assume use of a 72- 

element, 8,000 in3 array. Thus, take 

numbers authorized through the LOA 

are considered conservative due to 

differences in the airgun array (43 

elements, 5,380 in3), as compared to the 

source modeled for the rule. 

The survey will take place over 

approximately 26 days. The entire 

survey would occur within Zone 7. 

Chevron plans to conduct all 26 survey 

days in the ‘‘Winter’’ season. 

For some species, take estimates 

based solely on the modeling yielded 

results that are not realistically likely to 

occur when considered in light of other 

relevant information available during 

the rulemaking process regarding 

marine mammal occurrence in the 

GOM. The approach used in the 

acoustic exposure modeling, in which 

seven modeling zones were defined over 

the U.S. GOM, necessarily averages finescale information about marine mammal 

distribution over the large area of each 

modeling zone. Thus, although the 

modeling conducted for the rule is a 

natural starting point for estimating 

take, the rule acknowledged that other 

information could be considered (see, 

e.g., 86 FR 5442, January 19, 2021), 

discussing the need to provide 

flexibility and make efficient use of 

previous public and agency review of 

other information and identifying that 

additional public review is not 

necessary unless the model or inputs 

used differ substantively from those that 

were previously reviewed by NMFS and 

the public. For this survey, NMFS has 

other relevant information reviewed 

during the rulemaking that indicates use 

of the acoustic exposure modeling to 

generate a take estimate for one marine 

mammal species produces results 

inconsistent with what is known 

regarding its occurrence in the GOM. 

Accordingly, we have adjusted the 

calculated take estimates for the species 

as described below. 

Killer whales are the most rarely 

encountered species in the GOM, 

typically in deep waters of the central 

GOM (Roberts et al., 2015; Maze-Foley 

and Mullin, 2006). The approach used 

in the acoustic exposure modeling, in 

which seven modeling zones were 

defined over the U.S. GOM, necessarily 

averages fine-scale information about 

marine mammal distribution over the 

large area of each modeling zone. NMFS 

has determined that the approach 

results in unrealistic projections 

regarding the likelihood of encountering 

killer whales. 

As discussed in the final rule, the 

density models produced by Roberts et 

al. (2016) provide the best available 

scientific information regarding 

predicted density patterns of cetaceans 

in the U.S. GOM. The predictions 

represent the output of models derived 

from multi-year observations and 

associated environmental parameters 

that incorporate corrections for 

detection bias. However, in the case of 

killer whales, the model is informed by 

few data, as indicated by the coefficient 

of variation associated with the 

abundance predicted by the model 

(0.41, the second-highest of any GOM 

species model; Roberts et al., 2016). The 

model’s authors noted the expected 

non-uniform distribution of this rarelyencountered species (as discussed 

above) and expressed that, due to the 

limited data available to inform the 

model, it ‘‘should be viewed cautiously’’ 

(Roberts et al., 2015). 

NOAA surveys in the GOM from 

1992–2009 reported only 16 sightings of 

killer whales, with an additional 3 

encounters during more recent survey 

effort from 2017–18 (Waring et al., 2013; 

https://www.boem.gov/gommapps). 

Two other species were also observed 

on fewer than 20 occasions during the 

1992–2009 NOAA surveys (Fraser’s 

dolphin and false killer whale 3). 

However, observational data collected 

by protected species observers (PSOs) 

on industry geophysical survey vessels 

from 2002–2015 distinguish the killer 

whale in terms of rarity. During this 

period, killer whales were encountered 

on only 10 occasions, whereas the next 

most rarely encountered species 

(Fraser’s dolphin) was recorded on 69 

occasions (Barkaszi and Kelly, 2019). 

The false killer whale and pygmy killer 

whale were the next most rarely 

encountered species, with 110 records 

each. The killer whale was the species 

with the lowest detection frequency 

during each period over which PSO data 

were synthesized (2002–2008 and 2009– 

2015). This information qualitatively 

informed our rulemaking process, as 

discussed at 86 FR 5334 (January 19, 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2024 / Notices 1907 

2021), and similarly informs our 

analysis here. 

The rarity of encounters during 

seismic surveys is not likely to be the 

product of high bias on the probability 

of detection. Unlike certain cryptic 

species with high detection bias, such as 

Kogia spp. or beaked whales, or deepdiving species with high availability 

bias, such as beaked whales or sperm 

whales, killer whales are typically 

available for detection when present 

and are easily observed. Roberts et al. 

(2015) stated that availability is not a 

major factor affecting detectability of 

killer whales from shipboard surveys, as 

they are not a particularly long-diving 

species. Baird et al. (2005) reported that 

mean dive durations for 41 fish-eating 

killer whales for dives greater than or 

equal to 1 minute in duration was 2.3– 

2.4 minutes, and Hooker et al. (2012) 

reported that killer whales spent 78 

percent of their time at depths between 

0–10 m. Similarly, Kvadsheim et al. 

(2012) reported data from a study of 4 

killer whales, noting that the whales 

performed 20 times as many dives 1–30 

m in depth than to deeper waters, with 

an average depth during those most 

common dives of approximately 3 m. 

In summary, killer whales are the 

most rarely encountered species in the 

GOM and typically occur only in 

particularly deep water (>700 m). This 

survey would take place in deep waters 

that would overlap with depths in 

which killer whales typically occur. 

While this information is reflected 

through the density model informing 

the acoustic exposure modeling results, 

there is relatively high uncertainty 

associated with the model for this 

species, and the acoustic exposure 

modeling applies mean distribution data 

over areas where the species is in fact 

less likely to occur. NMFS’ 

determination in reflection of the data 

discussed above, which informed the 

final rule, is that use of the generic 

acoustic exposure modeling results for 

killer whales will generally result in 

estimated take numbers that are 

inconsistent with the assumptions made 

in the rule regarding expected killer 

whale take (86 FR 5403, January 19, 

2021). 

In past authorizations, NMFS has 

often addressed situations involving the 

low likelihood of encountering a rare 

species, such as killer whales in the 

GOM, through authorization of take of a 

single group of average size (i.e., 

representing a single potential 

encounter). See 83 FR 63268, December 

7, 2018. See also 86 FR 29090, May 28, 

2021 and 85 FR 55645, September 9, 

2020. For the reasons expressed above, 

NMFS determined that a single 

encounter of killer whales is more likely 

than the model-generated estimates and 

has authorized take associated with a 

single group encounter (i.e., up to seven 

animals). 

Based on the results of our analysis, 

NMFS has determined that the level of 

taking expected for this survey and 

authorized through the LOA is 

consistent with the findings made for 

the total taking allowable under the 

regulations. See table 1 in this notice 

and table 9 of the rule (86 FR 5322, 

January 19, 2021). 

Small Numbers Determination 

Under the GOM rule, NMFS may not 

authorize incidental take of marine 

mammals in an LOA if it will exceed 

‘‘small numbers.’’ In short, when an 

acceptable estimate of the individual 

marine mammals taken is available, if 

the estimated number of individual 

animals taken is up to, but not greater 

than, one-third of the best available 

abundance estimate, NMFS will 

determine that the numbers of marine 

mammals taken of a species or stock are 

small. For more information please see 

NMFS’ discussion of the MMPA’s small 

numbers requirement provided in the 

final rule (86 FR 5438, January 19, 

2021). 

The take numbers for authorization 

are determined as described above in 

the Summary of Request and Analysis 

section. Subsequently, the total 

incidents of harassment for each species 

are multiplied by scalar ratios to 

produce a derived product that better 

reflects the number of individuals likely 

to be taken within a survey (as 

compared to the total number of 

instances of take), accounting for the 

likelihood that some individual marine 

mammals may be taken on more than 1 

day (see 86 FR 5404, January 19, 2021). 

The output of this scaling, where 

appropriate, is incorporated into 

adjusted total take estimates that are the 

basis for NMFS’ small numbers 

determinations, as depicted in table 1. 

This product is used by NMFS in 

making the necessary small numbers 

determinations through comparison 

with the best available abundance 

estimates (see discussion at 86 FR 5391, 

January 19, 2021). For this comparison, 

NMFS’ approach is to use the maximum 

theoretical population, determined 

through review of current stock 

assessment reports (SAR; https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/marinemammal-stock-assessments) and modelpredicted abundance information 

(https://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/ 

Duke/GOM/). For the latter, for taxa 

where a density surface model could be 

produced, we use the maximum mean 

seasonal (i.e., 3-month) abundance 

prediction for purposes of comparison 

as a precautionary smoothing of monthto-month fluctuations and in 

consideration of a corresponding lack of 

data in the literature regarding seasonal 

distribution of marine mammals in the 

GOM. Information supporting the small 

numbers determinations is provided in 

table 1. 

TABLE 1—TAKE ANALYSIS

Species Authorized 

take 

Scaled 

take 1 Abundance 2 Percent abundance 

Rice’s whale 3 ........................................................................................................... 0 n/a 51 n/a 

Sperm whale ............................................................................................................ 138 58.2 2,207 2.6 

Kogia spp ................................................................................................................. 4 77 22.8 4,373 0.7 

Beaked whales ........................................................................................................ 1,216 122.8 3,768 3.3 

Rough-toothed dolphin ............................................................................................ 226 64.9 4,853 1.3 

Bottlenose dolphin ................................................................................................... 5 21 6.0 176,108 0.0 

Clymene dolphin ...................................................................................................... 596 171.2 11,895 1.4 

Atlantic spotted dolphin ........................................................................................... 0 n/a 74,785 n/a 

Pantropical spotted dolphin ..................................................................................... 5,921 1,699.5 102,361 1.7 

Spinner dolphin ........................................................................................................ 139 39.9 25,114 0.2 

Striped dolphin ......................................................................................................... 310 88.9 5,229 1.7 

Fraser’s dolphin ....................................................................................................... 97 28.0 1,665 1.7 

Risso’s dolphin ......................................................................................................... 96 28.4 3,764 0.8 

Melon-headed whale ............................................................................................... 384 113.4 7,003 1.6 

Pygmy killer whale ................................................................................................... 187 55.2 2,126 2.6 


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1908 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2024 / Notices 

TABLE 1—TAKE ANALYSIS—Continued 

Species Authorized 

take 

Scaled 

take 1 Abundance 2 Percent 

abundance 

False killer whale ..................................................................................................... 212 62.4 3,204 1.9 

Killer whale .............................................................................................................. 7 n/a 267 2.6 

Short-finned pilot whale ........................................................................................... 30 9.0 1,981 0.5 

1Scalar ratios were applied to ‘‘Authorized Take’’ values as described at 86 FR 5322, 5404 (January 19, 2021) to derive scaled take numbers 

shown here. 2Best abundance estimate. For most taxa, the best abundance estimate for purposes of comparison with take estimates is considered here to 

be the model-predicted abundance (Roberts et al., 2016). For those taxa where a density surface model predicting abundance by month was 

produced, the maximum mean seasonal abundance was used. For those taxa where abundance is not predicted by month, only mean annual 

abundance is available. For Rice’s whale and killer whale, the larger estimated SAR abundance estimate is used. 3The final rule refers to the GOM Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni). These whales were subsequently described as a new species, Rice’s 

whale (Balaenoptera ricei) (Rosel et al., 2021). 4 Includes 6 takes by Level A harassment and 71 takes by Level B harassment. Scalar ratio is applied to takes by Level B harassment only; 

small numbers determination made on basis of scaled Level B harassment take plus authorized Level A harassment take. 5 Modeled take of 6 increased to account for potential encounter with group of average size (Maze-Foley and Mullin, 2006). 

Based on the analysis contained 

herein of Chevron’s proposed survey 

activity described in its LOA 

application and the anticipated take of 

marine mammals, NMFS finds that 

small numbers of marine mammals will 

be taken relative to the affected species 

or stock sizes (i.e., less than one-third of 

the best available abundance estimate) 

and therefore the taking is of no more 

than small numbers. 

Authorization 

NMFS has determined that the level 

of taking for this LOA request is 

consistent with the findings made for 

the total taking allowable under the 

incidental take regulations and that the 

amount of take authorized under the 

LOA is of no more than small numbers. 

Accordingly, we have issued an LOA to 

Chevron authorizing the take of marine 

mammals incidental to its geophysical 

survey activity, as described above. 

Dated: January 5, 2024. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–00368 Filed 1–10–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD589] 

Marine Mammals; File No. 27099 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for 

permit amendment. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Pacific Whale Foundation (Responsible 

Party: Jens Curie), 300 Ma’alaea Rd. Ste. 

211, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793, has 

applied for an amendment to Scientific 

Research Permit No. 27099. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received on or before February 12, 2024. 

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. 27099 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. 27099 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: 

Courtney Smith, Ph.D., or Erin Markin, 

Ph.D., (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

subject amendment to Permit No. 27099 

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), the Endangered Species Act of 

1973, as amended (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). 

Permit No. 27099, issued on April 28, 

2023 (88 FR 31737, May 18, 2023), 

authorizes the permit holder to harass 

up to 1200 of the following cetaceans 

species, annually, during vessel, 

underwater, and unoccupied aerial 

systems (UAS) surveys within waters of 

the Main Hawaiian Islands: Blainville’s 

beaked (Mesoplodon densirostris), 

Bryde’s (Balaenoptera brydei), Cuvier’s 

beaked (Ziphius cavirostris), dwarf 

sperm (Kogia sima), false killer 

(Pseudorca crassidens; including the 

endangered Main Hawaiian Islands 

insular Distinct Population Segment), 

fin (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback 

(Megaptera novaeangliae), killer 

(Orcinus orca), melon-headed 

(Peponocephala electra), minke 

(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), pygmy 

killer (Feresa attenuata), pygmy sperm 

(Kogia breviceps), short-finned pilot 

(Globicephala macrorhynchus), and 

sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) 

whales; and common bottlenose 

(Tursiops truncatus), Fraser’s 

(Lagenodelphis hosei), pantropical 

spotted (Stenella attenuata), Risso’s 

(Grampus griseus), rough-toothed (Steno 

bredanensis), short-beaked common 

(Delphinus delphis), spinner (Stenella 

longistrostris longirostris), and striped 

(Stenella coeruleoalba) dolphins. The 

objective of research is to assess the 

human impacts on, and the distribution, 

abundance, social organization, 

population structure, population size, 

foraging, diet, reproduction, 

movements, habitat use, body condition, 

health, and behavior of Hawaiian 

cetaceans. Permitted research 

procedures include photo-ID, 

photogrammetry, underwater filming, 

suction-cup tagging, biopsy collection, 

fecal sampling, sloughed skin 

collection, and exhaled air sample 

collection. Up to 10 suction-cup tags 

and up to 40 biopsy samples may be 

taken from the above-listed species. The 

permit holder is requesting the permit 

be amended to include authorization to 

import up to 40 humpback whale (East 

Australia Distinct Population Segment) 

biopsy samples from Australia. The 

imported samples will be used to 


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