A permit to study 14 Alaska marine mammal species is up for comment

A Fairbanks firm, ABR, Inc. Environmental Research and Services, has applied for a federal permit to study 14 species of Alaska marine mammals — four seals and sea lions and ten whales and dolphins. NOAA Fisheries is taking public comment through Aug. 26.

The permit would authorize ABR to "take" the animals. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, take is broad: to harass, capture, or disturb an animal, not only to harm it. Most research that could affect marine mammals requires such a permit.

The published notice does not list the species, study area, or methods; NOAA makes the full application available on request. Methods in this field range from aerial surveys and photography to capture and biopsy sampling.