Biological and Conference Opinion on the Issuance of Permit No. 20556 and its Subsequent Modification (Permit No. 20556- 01) to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for Research on North Atlantic Right Whales

GA DNR has been conducting research on North Atlantic right whales since at least 1998 and has previously held at least three NMFS scientific research permits authorizing research on North Atlantic right whales in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico (Permit Nos. 0594-1467 [1998-2004], 594-1759 [2005-2011], and 15488 [2011-2017]). These past permits issued to GA DNR authorized a variety of research activities including most the activities proposed under Permit No. 20556 such as aerial surveys, vessel surveys, close approaches, documentation, and biological sampling.