Biological and Conference Opinion on the Issuance of Scientific Research Permit No. 21043 to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Research on Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata)

Smalltooth sawfish research permits have been issued for similar research in the same action area under Permit Nos. 1352, 1475, 1538, 13330, 15802, 17316, and 17787. This permit is an extension of previous work, initiated in 2004 under Permit No. 1475 and continued under Permit No. 15802. The research proposed under this permit has been evaluated in all of these previous permits and is not new or being conducted in ways that differ from previous assessments. Past analyses have found that these research techniques are likely to adversely affect listed species but are not likely to jeopardize their continued existence.