Federal Register #File No. 29418

NOAA Notice: University of Alaska Southeast Marine Mammal Research Permit Application

This notice announces that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, has received an application from the University of Alaska Southeast for a research permit involving marine mammals in Alaska. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce - Research Focus: - Study of 18 cetacean species, including killer whales, gray whales, humpback whales, and sperm whales - Endangered populations are a particular focus - Four pinniped species may be incidentally harassed - Research Methods: - Close vessel and unmanned aircraft approaches for photo-identification - Behavioral observations, underwater photography and video - Acoustic sonar for prey mapping - Tagging (suction-cup and dart/barb) - Biological sampling (skin/blubber biopsy, prey samples, exhaled air, sloughed skin, feces) - Passive acoustic recordings - Collection of prey remains and water samples for environmental DNA - Export of some marine mammal parts for analysis - Permit Details: - Permit, if granted, would be valid for 10 years - No OEMs or vendors are mentioned, as this is a research permit application, not a procurement opportunity.

Description

The University of Alaska Southeast has applied for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals in Alaska. The research will focus on 18 species of cetaceans, including endangered species such as gray, humpback, and sperm whales, with studies involving various methods like photo-identification, tagging, and acoustic recordings. The permit is requested for a duration of 10 years to further biological understanding of Alaskan cetaceans. Public comments on the application are due by May 20, 2026.

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