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	<summaries>

	<summary><p type="2">SUMMARY:</p>
<p type="1">Notice is hereby given that <applicant>Joseph Hightower</applicant>, Ph.D., North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, <applicant_institution woeId="23511678" type="POI" name="NC State University Raleigh, Medfield, NC, US">North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695</applicant_institution>, has applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose sturgeon ( <species_scientific name="Acipenser brevirostrum">Acipenser brevirostrum</species_scientific> ) for purposes of scientific research.</p>
</summary></summaries>
	<supplementary_information>

	<supplInfo><p type="2">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</p>
<p type="1">The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226).</p>
<p type="1">The applicant is seeking a five-year permit to assess the presence, abundance, and distribution of shortnose sturgeon within North Carolina rivers (Chowan, <applicant_location woeId="2482550" type="Town" name="Roanoke, VA, US">Roanoke</applicant_location>, <applicant>Tar-Pamlico</applicant>, Neuse, and <research_location woeId="28339437" type="Town" name="Cape Fear, NC, US">Cape Fear</research_location>) and estuaries (<research_location woeId="2352704" type="Town" name="Albemarle, NC, US">Albemarle</research_location> Sound) using non-lethal sampling methods combining hydroacoustic surveys (side-scan, DIDSON) with gill nets. Annually up to 10 shortnose sturgeon from the Chowan, <applicant>Tar-Pamlico</applicant>, <applicant_location woeId="2457913" type="Town" name="Neuse, NC, US">Neuse</applicant_location>, Cape Fear river systems and Albemarle Sound, and up to 20 shortnose sturgeon from the Roanoke River, would be captured, measured, weighed, sampled for genetic tissue analysis, and PIT tagged. Additionally, up to five adults from each river and Albemarle Sound would be captured, anesthetized, and implanted with an internal sonic transmitter. Manual tracking and passive detections of telemetered fish at fixed receiver stations would provide information about movements and habitat use. Recaptures of tagged fish may also be used to produce abundance estimates if appropriate. Information gained about sturgeon presence, abundance and distribution would be used to guide future efforts to restore or protect key habitats.</p>
</supplInfo></supplementary_information>
</results>