A researcher from the University of Nevada Las Vegas is seeking a permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to conduct research on Weddell seals. The applicant proposes multiple studies to investigate how physiology supports and limits hypoxia tolerance in diving marine mammals and seeks permission to take thirty adult Weddell seals at a dive hole and thirty-six free-ranging adult Weddell seals in Erebus Bay, Antarctica, over two field seasons. The applicant anticipates up to two annual mortalities and seeks permission to capture, restrain, transport, anesthetize, sedate, mark, weigh, conduct ultrasound on, and collect biological samples from the seals. NMFS is accepting comments on the permit application through February 25, 2022.
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