[Federal Register: October 17, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 200)]
[Notices]
[Page 61022-61025]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17oc06-60]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 101106D]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Revision of Species of Concern
List, Candidate Species Definition, and Candidate Species List
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; revision of species of concern list, candidate species
definition, and species considered as candidates.
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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, revise: our species of concern list by adding three
and removing six species; our definition of candidate species; and our
candidate species list by adding four species and removing two. We
solicit information and comments on the status of, and research and
stewardship opportunities for, species of concern.
DATES: These actions are effective on October 17, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send comments and documentation regarding the status of any
species of concern to the Chief of Endangered Species, NMFS, Office of
Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, F/PR3, Silver Spring, MD
20910. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail at soc.list@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following
document identifier: Species of Concern List.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marta Nammack at (301)713-1401, ext.
180, marta.nammack@noaa.gov, for general information on the Species of
Concern program; Kim Damon-Randall at (978) 281-9300 x6535,
kimberly.damon-randall@noaa.gov, for information on the newly
designated species of concern.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations implementing section 4 of
the ESA (5 U.S.C. 1533) define ``candidate'' as ``any species being
considered by the Secretary [of Commerce or Interior] for listing as an
endangered or a threatened species, but not yet the subject of a
proposed rule'' (50 CFR 424.02). Such a designation does not confer any
procedural or substantive protections of the ESA on the candidate
species.
``Species of concern'' are species about which we have some
concerns regarding status and threats, but for which insufficient
information is available to indicate a need to list the species under
the ESA (69 FR 19975; April 15, 2004). Species can qualify as both
species of concern and candidate species. This discussion is limited to
species under NMFS jurisdiction and does not apply to the regulatory
practices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Definition of Candidate Species
On April 15, 2004, (69 FR 19975) we stated that we would limit use
of the term ``candidate species'' to refer to (1) species that are the
subject of a petition to list and for which we have determined that
listing may be warranted, pursuant to section 4(b)(3)(A), and (2)
species for which we have determined, following a status review, that
listing is warranted (whether or not they are the subject of a
petition). However, in order to be consistent, we intend to include
non-petitioned species for which we have announced the initiation of a
formal status review in our definition of candidate species.
``Candidate species'' will henceforth refer to (1) species that are the
subject of a petition to list and for which we have determined that
listing may be warranted, pursuant to section 4(b)(3)(A), and (2)
species that are not the subject of a petition but for which we have
announced the initiation of a status review in the Federal Register. In
other words, any species that is undergoing a status review that we
have announced in a Federal Register notice will be considered a
candidate species.
Species of Concern
In our April 15, 2004, notice establishing the species of concern
list (69 FR 19975), we described factors that we consider when
identifying species of concern. Rationale for identifying each species
of concern is available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/concern.
We intend to publish annual updates of our species of concern list in
the Federal Register. Table 1 at the end of this Notice lists the
current species of concern. We are adding three species to and removing
six species from the species of concern list. Also, two species are
removed from the candidate species list, while four species of concern
are added to the candidate list because they are undergoing formal
status reviews.
Initiation of a status review does not mean that an ESA listing is
imminent. Even after a status review has been conducted, it is possible
that the available information will be insufficient to make a
determination on the status of the species or that the information will
indicate that an ESA listing is not warranted. Species of concern
status serves to promote conservation and research efforts for these
species.
Adding Three Species of Concern
We have identified three new species of concern: the porbeagle
(Lamna nasus), alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and blueback herring
(Alosa aestivalis). A short synopsis of their status and factors for
decline are presented here. More detailed information on these species
is available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/concern/.
The porbeagle is a slow growing coastal shark, with a relatively
late age at maturity. It has been overfished over the last four
decades, resulting in a 90 percent loss of the sexually mature
population. In 2006 the International Union for Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources assessed the status of
[[Page 61023]]
this species as Vulnerable globally, Endangered in the Northwest
Atlantic, and Critically Endangered in the Northeast Atlantic and
Mediterranean. In May 2004, the Committee on the Status of Endangered
Wildlife in Canada recommended to the Canadian Minister of Fisheries
that this species be listed as endangered under the Species at Risk
Act. While the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
includes fishery restrictions for sharks in the United States, none of
these restrictions, except for an annual quota of 92 metric tons, are
specific to the porbeagle.
The alewife and blueback herring are fishes collectively referred
to as ``river herring.'' Due to difficulties in distinguishing the two
species, they are often harvested and managed together. Landings
statistics and the numbers of fish observed on annual spawning runs
indicate a drastic decline in river herring populations throughout much
of their range since the mid-1960s. Though factors responsible for this
decline have yet to be identified, decreased access to spawning areas
from the construction of dams, other impediments to migration,
degradation of habitat, overfishing, and increased predation by
recovering striped bass populations have likely contributed to their
decline.
Removing Six Species
We have removed six species from the species of concern list. The
southern distinct population segment (DPS) of green sturgeon (Acipenser
medirostris), Lower Columbia River coho salmon evolutionarily
significant unit (ESU) (Oncorhynchus kisutch), elkhorn coral (Acropora
palmata), and staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) are being removed
from this list because we have listed them as threatened (green
sturgeon--67 FR 17757; April 7, 2006), (coho--70 FR 37160; June 28,
2005), (elkhorn coral and staghorn coral--71 FR 26852; May 9, 2006). We
are removing the goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) from the species
of concern list because the January 2006 status report written by a
review team appointed by NMFS' Southeast Region indicated that the
species no longer met the criteria for being a species of concern
(January 17, 2006, memorandum from Roy Crabtree, Regional
Administrator, Southeast Region, to Jim Lecky; February 10, 2006,
concurrence by Jim Lecky, Director, Office of Protected Resources). And
the Oregon Coast coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) ESU is no longer a
species of concern because, after proposing to list the species as
threatened under the ESA, we withdrew the proposal because of ongoing
conservation efforts that are likely to improve the status of this
species (71 FR 3033; January 19, 2006).
Candidate Species
Since we last published an updated species of concern list, there
have also been changes to the candidate species list. Two former
species of concern that were also candidate species because of ongoing
status reviews are no longer species of concern or candidate species:
the Lower Columbia River coho salmon ESU and the Oregon Coast coho
salmon ESU. As described above, these species are no longer species of
concern, and they are also no longer candidate species.
New Candidate Species
We are adding four species to the candidate species list. Since we
are now including as candidate species those species for which we have
initiated our own formal status reviews, the following three species
are now considered to be candidate species: Atlantic sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus, this Federal Register notice),
Atlantic salmon populations in Maine outside the range of the listed
Gulf of Maine DPS (Salmo salar, 71 FR 55431; September 22, 2006), and
black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii, announced in this issue of the
Federal Register). The Cook Inlet DPS of the beluga whale
(Delphinapterus leucas) is also a candidate species both because
announced the initiation of a status review (71 FR 14836; March 24,
2006), and we also made a 90-day finding that the subsequent petition
to list the species presented substantial information indicating that
the petitioned action may be warranted (71 FR 44614; August 7, 2006).
Atlantic sturgeon
In 1998, in response to a petition to list Atlantic sturgeon under
the ESA, NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a
determination that listing the species was not warranted at that time
(63 FR 50187; September 21, 1998). NMFS also retained this species on
its candidate species list in order to continue to monitor its status
(63 FR 50211; September 21, 1998) and later transferred it to its newly
established species of concern list (69 FR 19975; April 15, 2004). In
2005, following two separate workshops which highlighted ongoing
concerns regarding the current status of Atlantic sturgeon, NMFS
initiated a new status review. We formed a biological review team (BRT)
comprised of representatives from NMFS, FWS, and the U.S. Geological
Survey to compile information on the status of Atlantic sturgeon. The
BRT drafted a status review report which is undergoing peer review at
this time. We expect to use the status review report to make a
determination on whether listing Atlantic sturgeon or distinct
population segments of this species is warranted at this time.
Atlantic salmon
A BRT consisting of biologists from the Maine Atlantic Salmon
Commission, Penobscot Indian Nation, NMFS, and FWS has completed a
status review report for Atlantic salmon Status Review for Anadromous
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in the United States, July 2006). This
updates the 1999 status review report on which we based our
determination to list the Gulf of Maine DPS of Atlantic salmon as
endangered (65 FR 69459; November 17, 2000) by analyzing new
information and assessing the status of other populations in Maine in
relation to the Gulf of Maine DPS. We published a Notice of
Availability for the status review report in the Federal Register (71
FR 55431; September 22, 2006), and we will publish our determination on
whether a modification to the existing listing or a new listing is
warranted.
Species of Concern Table
Table 1 contains a complete list of NMFS' species of concern. In
Table 1, the common name appears as the first entry followed by the
scientific name, the family name, and the area of concern. The area of
concern denotes the general geographic range of the species or the
vertebrate population for which concern has been expressed. Results of
status reviews may narrow or expand the geographic areas or populations
of concern in the future. Additionally, species of concern that are
also considered to be candidate species because they are undergoing
formal status reviews are denoted in boldface type. It is important to
note that the species of concern list is limited by the information
available. Any species of concern identified during the period between
this revision and the next Federal Register publication will be listed
on our web page (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/concern).
Comments Solicited
We solicit information on the biology of, threats to, and relevant
research and stewardship opportunities for species of concern (see
ADDRESSES). This information will help guide us in future revisions of
the species of concern list
[[Page 61024]]
and allocation of resources for species of concern. There is no
deadline for submitting such information.
Dated: October 10, 2006.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,National Marine Fisheries
Service.
Table 1 - Species of Concern List
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Common Name Scientific Name Family Area of Concern \1\
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Marine Mammals ..................... ................. ...............................
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beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas Monodontidae Pacific-AK (Cook Inlet
population).
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Fishes ..................... ................. ...............................
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sand tiger shark Odontaspis taurus Odontaspididae Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico.
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porbeagle Lamna nasus Lamnidae Atlantic, Newfoundland, Canada
to New Jersey
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dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus Carcharhinidae Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico-
Western North Atlantic DPS.
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night shark Carcharinus signatus Carcharhinidae Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico.
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largetooth sawfish Pristis pristis Pristidae Atlantic-TX, FL.
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barndoor skate Pristis pristis Rajidae Atlantic-Newfoundland, Canada
to Cape Hatteras, NC.
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thorny skate Raja radiata Rajidae Atlantic-West Greenland to NY.
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Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus Acipenseridae Atlantic-Labrador to St. Johns
oxyrinchus R., FL; anadromous.
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green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris Acipenseridae Pacific-northern DPS (including
coastal spawning populations
from the Eel River north, to
the Klamath and Rogue rivers);
anadromous.
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blueback herring Alosa aestivalis Clupeidae Atlantic-Cape Breton, Nova
Scotia, to St. John's River,
FL.
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Alabama shad Alosa alabamae Clupeidae Gulf of Mexico-AL, FL,
anadromous.
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alewife Alosa pseudoharengus Clupeidae Atlantic-Newfoundland to North
Carolina.
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coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch Salmonidae Pacific-Puget Sound/Strait of
Georgia coho ESU; anadromous.
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steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Salmonidae Pacific-OR Coast ESU;
anadromous.
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Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus Salmonidae Pacific-Central Valley fall and
tshawytscha late fall-run ESU
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Atlantic salmon Salmo salar Salmonidae Atlantic-Gulf of Maine (other
populations in streams and
rivers in Maine outside the
range of the listed Gulf of
Maine Atlantic salmon DPS);
anadromous.
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rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax Osmeridae Atlantic-Labrador to NJ;
anadromous.
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cusk Brosme brosme Gadidae Atlantic-Gulf of Maine.
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Pacific hake Merluccius productus Gadidae Pacific-Georgia Basin DPS.
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mangrove rivulus Rivulus marmoratus Aplocheilidae Atlantic-FL, estuarine.
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saltmarsh topminnow Fundulus jenkinsi Cyprinodontidae Atlantic-TX, LA, MS, AL, FL.
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key silverside Menidia conchorum Atherinidae Atlantic-Florida Keys.
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opossum pipefish Microphis brachyurus Syngnathidae Atlantic-Florida (Indian River
lineatus Lagoon).
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striped croaker Bairdiella Sciaenidae Atlantic-FL, Antilles and
sanctaeluciae Caribbean from Costa Rica to
Guyana.
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humphead wrasse Cheilinus undulatus Labridae Indo-Pacific-Red Sea to the
Tuamotus, north to the
Ryukyus, east to Wake Islands,
south to New Caledonia,
throughout Micronesia;
includes U.S. territories of
Guam and American Samoa.
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[[Page 61025]]
bumphead parrotfish Bolbometopon Scaridae Indo-Pacific-Red Sea and East
muricatum Africa to the Line Islands and
Samoa; north to Yaeyama, south
to the Great Barrier Reef and
New Caledonia; Paulau,
Caroline, Mariana in
Micronesia; in U.S. it occurs
in Guam, American Samoa, CNMI
and the Pacific Remote Island
Areas (Wake Islands).
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Atlantic wolffish Anarhichas lupus Anarhichadidae Atlantic-Georges Bank and
western Gulf of Maine.
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white marlin Tetrapturus albidus Istiophoridae Atlantic.
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cowcod Sebastes levis Scorpaenidae Pacific-Central OR to central
Baja California and Guadalupe
Island, Mexico.
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bocaccio Sebastes paucispinis Scorpaenidae Pacific-Southern DPS (Northern
CA to Mexico).
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Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus Pleuronectidae Atlantic-Labrador to southern
hippoglossus New England.
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speckled hind Epinephelus Serranidae Atlantic-NC to Gulf of Mexico.
drummondhayi
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warsaw grouper Epinephelus nigritus Serranidae Atlantic-MA southward to Gulf
of Mexico.
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Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus Serranidae Atlantic-NC southward to Gulf
of Mexico.
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Brachiopoda ..................... ................. ...............................
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inarticulate brachiopod Lingula reevii Lingulidae Pacific-Hawaii, only Kaneohe
Bay.
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Mollusks ..................... ................. ...............................
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pink abalone Haliotis corrugata Haliotidae Pacific-Point Conception, CA,
to Bahia de Tortuga, Baja
California.
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black abalone Haliotis cracherodii Haliotidae Pacific-OR, CA, Baja
California.
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green abalone Haliotis fulgens Haliotidae Pacific-Point Conception, CA,
to Bahia Magdalena, Baja
California.
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pinto abalone Haliotis Haliotidae Pacific-Sitka, AK, to Point
kamtschatkana Conception, CA.
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Anthozoans (Corals) ..................... ................. ...............................
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Hawaiian reef coral Montipora dilitata Acroporidae Pacific-Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay,
Midway atoll, and Maro Reef).
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ivory bush coral Oculina varicosa Oculinidae Atlantic-West Indies, Bermuda,
NC, FL, Gulf of Mexico,
Caribbean.
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\1\ Defines the general geographic area or populations of concern for the species.
DPS = distinct population segment, which is a species for purposes of the ESA.
ESU = evolutionarily significant unit, which is a DPS or species for purposes of the ESA
[FR Doc. E6-17249 Filed 10-16-06; 8:45 am]
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