Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species (APPS)

1) If your activities will involve equipment (e.g., scientific instruments) or techniques that are new, untested,or otherwise have unknown or uncertain impacts on the biological or physical environment , please discuss the degree to which they are likely to be adopted by others for similar activities or applied more broadly.

The research does not involve any new, innovative, controversial and/or experimental equipment or techniques.

2) If your activities involve collecting, handling, or transporting potentially infectious agents or pathogens (e.g., biological specimens such as live animals or blood), or using or transporting hazardous substances (e.g., toxic chemicals), provide a description of the protocols you will use to ensure public health and human safety are not adversely affected, such as by spread of zoonotic diseases or contamination of food or water supplies.

The activities do not involve the collection, handling, or transport of potentially infectious agents or pathogens and/or the use or transport of hazardous substances; any samples would not be shipped using hazardous materials and any tissue collected is not considered infectious or a potential to contain pathogens. The research techniques are established for stranded marine mammals and have been shared with Alaska Native communities through the "Cooperative Effort between Alaska Native People and Federal Agencies on Marine Mammal and Bird Stranding Program".

3) Describe the physical characteristics of your project location, including whether you will be working in or near unique geographic areas such as state or National Marine Sanctuaries, Marine Protected Areas, Parks or Wilderness Areas, Wildlife Refuges, Wild and Scenic Rivers, designated Critical Habitat for endangered or threatened species, Essential Fish Habitat, etc. Discuss how your activities could impact the physical environment, such as by direct alteration of substrate during use of bottom trawls, setting nets, anchoring vessels or buoys, erecting blinds or other structures, or ingress and egress of researchers, and measures you will take to minimize these impacts.

None of our activities impacts the physical environment through any sort of alteration of the substrate or otherwise.

4) Briefly describe important scientific, cultural, or historic resources (e.g., archeological resources, animals used for subsistence, sites listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places) in your project area and discuss measures you will take to ensure your work does not cause loss or destruction of such resources. If your activity will target marine mammals in Alaska or Washington, discuss measures you will take to ensure your project does not adversely affect the availability (e.g., distribution, abundance) or suitability (e.g., food safety) of these animals for subsistence uses.

The activities will not cause loss or destruction of significant scientific, cultural or historic resources. In fact, allowing coastal Alaska Native subsistence users to send in parts or specimens to a permitted Alaska Native organization acknowledges the cultural importance and continued uses of marine mammals.

5) Discuss whether your project involves activities known or suspected of introducing or spreading invasive species, intentionally or not, (e.g., transporting animals or tissues, discharging ballast water, use of equipment at multiple sites). Describe measures you would take to prevent the possible introduction or spread of non-indigenous or invasive species, including plants, animals, microbes, or other biological agents.

Samples will only be taken from dead stranded (also sometimes referred to as beach cast) marine mammals and/or from Alaska Native subsistence users practicing customary and traditional use of marine mammals. Transportation will be in sealed containers of frozen parts or parts fully bathed in a suitable storage agent such as ethanol. Such transport will only occur first, with the understanding and approval of regional NMFS officials and second, where the items are being transported to approved and designated personnel at an approved facility.