Federal Register #27490

NOAA Issues Scientific Permit for Incidental Take of ESA-Listed Sea Turtles and Sturgeon to UMass Dartmouth SMAST

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a scientific permit to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth SMAST for incidental take of ESA-listed sea turtles and sturgeon during fisheries surveys: - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources - Awarded Entity: - University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) - Services Awarded: - Incidental Take Permit for ESA-listed sea turtles (Kemp's ridley, leatherback, green, loggerhead) and Atlantic sturgeon (multiple distinct population segments) - Activities authorized: Fisheries survey operations in and around the Massachusetts/Rhode Island Wind Energy Area (MA/RI WEA) - Conservation plan requirements: Trained observers, safe handling and release, comprehensive reporting, and minimization/mitigation measures - Maximum authorized take limits set for each species over a 10-year period (e.g., 50 Atlantic sturgeon, 10 each for green, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles) - Additional Regulatory Actions: - Letters of Authorization (LOAs) issued to six companies for incidental take of marine mammals during geophysical surveys in the Gulf of America (WesternGeco, LLC; TGS; Future Energy Consultants; bp Exploration & Production Inc.; Viridien; LLOG Exploration Offshore, L.L.C.) - Notable Details: - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved, as this is a regulatory permit for scientific and survey activities, not a procurement of products or commercial services - Estimated cost for conservation plan implementation is $100,000 - Places of Performance: - Fisheries survey activities: Massachusetts/Rhode Island Wind Energy Area (MA/RI WEA), southern New England offshore waters - Geophysical surveys: Gulf of America - NOAA/NMFS government office: 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd. #1100, Portland, OR 97232

Description

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) has been issued a permit for the incidental take of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed sea turtles and sturgeon associated with otherwise lawful fisheries survey activities. The permit covers several species including endangered Kemp's ridley and leatherback sea turtles, and various distinct population segments of Atlantic sturgeon. SMAST will implement a conservation plan involving monitoring, minimizing, and mitigating impacts, including trained observers and safe handling procedures. The permit is issued under the authority of the ESA and includes specific authorized take limits over a 10-year period.

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