Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 (Responsible Party: Nancy Friday, Ph.D....
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice; receipt of application.
SUMMARY:
Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 (Responsible Party: Nancy Friday, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.
DATES:
Written comments must be received on or before September 8, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
The application and related documents are available upon written request via email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.
Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.
Please include File No. 29817 in the subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.
The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D. or Courtney Smith, Ph.D., (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531et seq.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151et seq.).
The applicant requests a 10-year permit to conduct research on 20 species of cetaceans in U.S. and international waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Nine species of pinnipeds may be harassed during research. ESA-listed species include: beluga (
Delphinapterus leucas), blue (
Balaenoptera musculus), bowhead (
Balaena mysticetus), fin (
Balaenoptera physalus), gray (
Eschrichtius robustus), humpback (
Megaptera novaeangliae), killer (
Orcinus orca), North Pacific right (
Eubalaena japonica), sei (
Balaenoptera borealis), and sperm (
Physeter macrocephalus) whales; Steller sea lions (
Eumetopias jubatus); and bearded (
Erignathus barbatus), Guadalupe fur (
Arctocephalus townsendi), and ringed (
Pusa hispida) seals. The objectives of the research are to study cetacean population abundance, trends, distribution, health, and status. Animals may be taken during vessel and aerial surveys, including uncrewed aircraft systems, for counts, photography, videography, observations, biological sampling (blow, feces, sloughed skin, predation remains, and skin and blubber biopsies), and tagging (suction-cup, dart/barb, and deep-implant). Marine mammal parts may also be imported and exported for analysis and curation. See the application for complete numbers of animals requested by species, life stage, and procedure.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321et seq.), an initial determination has been made that the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the
Federal Register
, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
Dated: August 3, 2026.
Larissa Plants,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
16 U.S.C. 1361
50 CFR part 216