Environmental Assessment on the Effects of the Issuance of of a Scientific Research Permit to Conduct Scientific Research on Shortnose Sturgeon in the Delaware River, File No. 14604

摘要

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to issue a scientific research permit to Harold Brundage (Environmental Research and Consulting, Inc. Kennett Square, Pennsylvania) for takes of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in the wild, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.c. 1531 et seq.). The applicant is seeking a five-year scientific research permit to characterize habitat use, relative abundance, reproduction, juvenile recruitment, temporal and spatial distributions, and reproductive health of the shortnose sturgeon population in the Delaware River and Estuary. The proposed permit requests annual authorization for non-lethal sampling methods on up to 1,000 adult and juvenile shortnose sturgeon. Research activities would include: capturing via gill net, trammel net, and trawl net; measuring and weighing; tagging with PIT and Floy T -bar tags; and sampling tissue for genetic analysis. A subset of 30 adults and 30 juveniles would be tagged with acoustic transmitters. Another subset of24 adults would be examined internally using laparoscopic techniques and each would potentially also have gonad biopsy and blood sample taken for analyses. Another subset of 20 adults per year would be included in hydroacoustic gear testing. Additionally, lethal collection of up to 300 eggs and larvae each year (not exceeding 900 over five years) would take place during seasonal spawning activity by artificial substrate, D-frame ichthyoplankton net, and/or epibenthic sled. Finally, one annual unintended mortality or serious harm resulting from research, or up to three over the life of the permit, is requested.