Federal Register #29804

NOAA Permits for Marine Mammal Research and Geophysical Survey Activities in North Atlantic

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA under the Department of Commerce, is processing permit applications related to marine mammal research and geophysical survey activities in the North Atlantic Ocean. - Government Buyer: - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources - Permit Applications and Authorizations: - New England Aquarium has applied for a 10-year permit to conduct research on 14 cetacean species and 2 pinniped species in U.S. and international North Atlantic waters - Research focuses on North Atlantic right whales and other ESA-listed species (bowhead, blue, fin, sei, sperm whales) - Methods include vessel and aerial surveys, photography, videography, photogrammetry, thermal imaging, passive acoustic recordings, biological sampling (blow, feces, sloughed skin, biopsies), and suction-cup tagging - Permit allows import, export, and receipt of cetacean parts for analysis and curation - Fugro has received authorization for incidental take of marine mammals during geophysical survey activities, with strict limits to ensure only small numbers are affected relative to species abundance - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named, as these are research and regulatory permits rather than product or service procurements - Notable Requirements: - Research must comply with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) - Focus on monitoring demographics, health, and human impacts on marine mammals, especially North Atlantic right whales - All activities are subject to regulatory oversight and scientific best practices

Description

The New England Aquarium, located at Central Wharf, Boston, MA, has applied for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals. The research will focus on 14 species of cetaceans and 2 species of pinnipeds in U.S. and international waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, including ESA-listed species such as bowhead, blue, fin, North Atlantic right, sei, and sperm whales. The objectives include identifying, assessing, quantifying, and monitoring trends in demographics, health, and anthropogenic impacts on marine mammals, with a focus on North Atlantic right whales. Research methods include vessel and aerial surveys, photography, videography, photogrammetry, thermal imaging, passive acoustic recordings, biological sampling, and suction-cup tagging. The permit request is for a 10-year period.

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