SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The subject modification to Permit No. 23096-01, issued on November 20, 2023 (88 FR 85880, December 11, 2023), is requested under the authority of 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. 23096-01 authorizes the permit holder to: quantify population dynamics and seasonal habitat of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in Georgia and Florida river systems and estuaries [ i.e., Savannah (GA), Altamaha (GA), Ogeechee (GA), Satilla (GA), St. Marys (GA, FL), Nassau (FL) and St. Johns River systems (FL)]. Researchers may capture (by gillnet or trammel net), tag (passive integrated transponder, internal acoustic, and dart), anesthetize, genetic fin clip, fin ray clip, measure, weigh, photograph/video, blood sample, mucus sample, and laparoscopically biopsy gonads of juvenile, sub-adult, and adult Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon. Early life stages of each species may be lethally sampled to document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to two sturgeon of each species may unintentionally die annually in each river system during sampling activities, excluding the Satilla, St Marys, and St. Johns Rivers. The permit holder now requests authorization to: (1) increase the number of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon from 10 to 20 in the Ogeechee River that may be captured by trammel net, anesthetized, internally acoustically tagged, measured, weighed, PIT tagged, Floy tagged, tissue (genetic) sampled, and photographed annually prior to release; (2) increase the number of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon from 80 to 160 in the Ogeechee River that may be captured by trammel net, measured, weighed, PIT tagged, Floy tagged, tissue (genetic sampled), and photographed annually prior to release. A sub-set of 80 of these fish may also have the leading and secondary fin rays, scute tips and epidermal mucus sampled. The permit expires January 31, 2030.