Endangered Species Permit Application for Sea Turtle Research
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This notice pertains to a permit application submitted by Dr. Jesse Senko from Arizona State University to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for taking various species of sea turtles for scientific research. The research aims to develop and test technologies to reduce sea turtle bycatch in North Carolina waters, including procedures such as handling, measuring, and tagging sea turtles before their release. The permit would allow for the capture and study of a specified number of green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley sea turtles, with a provision for some incidental mortality during netting operations over a five-year period.
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Key Changes
- Permitting process for sea turtle research intensified under the Endangered Species Act
- Increased capacity for scientific research on sea turtle species
- Protocols established for handling and tagging of sea turtles
Obligations
What this law requires
Applicant must receive written approval from NMFS before taking any sea turtles for scientific research under this permit application
Applicant must limit annual sea turtle takes to specified numbers: up to 175 green, 4 hawksbill, 110 Kemp's ridley, 9 leatherback, 245 loggerhead, 4 olive, and 10 unidentified sea turtles across both North Carolina and Virginia locations combined
Applicant must limit unintentional mortality during netting operations to no more than 2 green, 2 loggerhead, 1 Kemp's ridley, 1 hawksbill, 1 leatherback, and 1 olive ridley sea turtles over the entire 5-year permit period
Applicant must perform only specified post-capture procedures before release: handling, measuring, photography, and flipper and passive integrated transponder tagging
Permit is valid for a period of 5 years from issuance; applicant must cease all permitted activities upon permit expiration unless renewal is obtained