[Federal Register: August 22, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 162)]
[Notices]
[Page 46966-46968]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22au07-53]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB42
Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability; recovery plan and 5-year review for the
Hawaiian monk seal.
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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the
adoption of an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan (Recovery
Plan) and 5-year review for the Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus
schauinslandi). The Recovery Plan contains revisions and additions in
consideration of public comments on the proposed draft Recovery Plan
for the Hawaiian Monk Seal. This is the first 5-year review completed
for the Hawaiian monk seal.
ADDRESSES: Additional information about the Recovery Plan and 5-year
review may be obtained by writing to Dr. Michelle Yuen, National Marine
Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Regional Office, Protected Resources
Division, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI, 96814 or
send an electronic message to michelle.yuen@noaa.gov.
[[Page 46967]]
Electronic copies of the Recovery Plan, the 5-year review, and a
summary of NMFS's response to public comments on the Recovery Plan are
available online at the NMFS Office of Protected Resources website:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/pinnipeds/hawaiianmonkseal.htm
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Yuen (808-944-2243), e-mail:
michelle.yuen@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Recovery Plan Background
Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for the
conservation and recovery of species listed under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The ESA
requires that recovery plans incorporate (1) objective, measurable
criteria that, when met, would result in a determination that the
species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-specific
management actions necessary to achieve the plan's goals; and (3)
estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery actions.
The ESA requires the development of recovery plans for listed species
unless such a plan would not promote the recovery of a particular
species. NMFS's goal is to restore the endangered Hawaiian monk seal
population to the point where they are again secure, self-sustaining
members of their ecosystem and no longer need the protections of the
ESA.
The Hawaiian monk seal has the distinction of being the only
endangered marine mammal species whose entire range, historical and
current, lies within the United States of America. The majority of the
population of Hawaiian monk seals now occupies the northwestern
Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) with six main breeding sub-populations. The
species is also found in lower numbers in the main Hawaiian Islands
(MHI), where the population size and range both appear to be expanding.
The Hawaiian monk seal was listed as an endangered species under the
ESA on November 23, 1976 (41 FR 51611). On April 30, 1986 (51 FR
16047), critical habitat was designated at all beach areas, lagoon
waters, and ocean waters out to a depth of 10 fathoms around Kure
Atoll, Midway, Pearl and Hermes Reef, Lisianski Island, Laysan Island,
Gardner Pinnacles, French Frigate Shoals, Necker Island and Nihoa
Island; critical habitat was extended to include Maro Reef and waters
around all habitat out to the 20 fathom isobath on May 26, 1988. The
best estimate of the total population size in 2006 is 1,202 seals.
The Recovery Plan was originally drafted by the Hawaiian Monk Seal
Recovery Team at the request of the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries. The Recovery Team includes experts on marine mammals from
the private sector, academia, and government, as well as experts on
endangered species conservation. NMFS released the draft Recovery Plan
and requested comments from the public on November 28, 2006 (71 FR
68801). A summary of comments and NMFS responses to comments are
available electronically (see ADDRESSES). Concurrent with the public
comment period, NMFS requested comments from four independent peer-
reviewers.
The final Recovery Plan contains: (1) a comprehensive review of the
Hawaiian monk seal population distribution, life history, and habitat
use, (2) a threats assessment, (3) conservation efforts, (4) biological
and recovery criteria for downlisting and delisting, (5) actions
necessary for the recovery of the species, (6) an implementation
schedule, and (7) estimates of time and cost to recovery. The threats
assessment includes three levels of threats: (1) Crucial (ongoing and
apparent threat at most sites in the NWHI), (2) Serious (potential
cause of localized threats), and (3) Moderate (localized impacts
possible but not considered a serious or immediate threat). The crucial
threats to Hawaiian monk seals are: food limitation, entanglement, and
shark predation. The serious threats to Hawaiian monk seals are:
infectious disease, habitat loss, fishery interaction, male aggression,
and human interaction. Finally, the moderate threats to Hawaiian monk
seals are: biotoxins, vessel groundings and contaminants.
Criteria for the reclassification of the Hawaiian monk seal are
included in the final Recovery Plan. In summary, Hawaiian monk seals
may be reclassified from endangered to threatened when all of the
following have been met: (1) aggregate numbers exceed 2,900 total
individuals in the NWHI; (2) at least 5 of the 6 main sub-population in
the NWHI are above 100 individuals, and the MHI population is above
500; (3) the survivorship of females in each subpopulation in the NWHI
and in the MHI is high enough that, in conjunction with the birth rates
in each subpopulation, the calculated population growth rate for each
subpopulation is not negative. The population will be considered for a
delisting if the downlisting criteria continue to be met for 20
consecutive years without new crucial or serious threats being
identified. Time and cost for recovery actions are contained in the
final Recovery Plan. The recovery program will cost $35,915,000 for the
first five fiscal years and $378,425,000 to full recovery assuming the
best case scenario that the population could grow to the stipulated
total population size in the NWHI within 12 years and that the
stipulated numbers in the MHI could be reached within 34 years.
In accordance with the 2003 Peer Review Policy as stated in
Appendix R of the Interim Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery
Planning Guidance, NMFS solicited independent peer-review on the draft
Plan concurrent with the public comment period. Independent peer-
reviews were requested from four scientists and managers with expertise
in recovery planning, statistical analyses, fisheries, and marine
mammals. Many of the recommendations that were made by the reviewers
were addressed and provided in detail in the final plan.
5-year Review Background
Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that NMFS conduct a review
of listed species at least once every five years. On the basis of such
reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), NMFS will determine whether or not
any species should be removed from the list (delisted), or reclassified
from endangered to threatened or from threatened to endangered.
Delisting a species must be supported by the best scientific and
commercial data available and only considered if such data
substantiates that the species is neither endangered nor threatened for
one or more of the following reasons: (1) the species is considered
extinct; (2) the species is considered to be recovered; and/or (3) the
original data available when the species was listed, or the
interpretation of such data, were in error. Any change in Federal
classification would require a separate rulemaking process.
The 5-year review considered the best scientific and commercial
data and all new information that has become available since the
listing determination or most recent status review. Categories of
information include (A) species biology including, but not limited to,
population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics;
(B) habitat conditions including, but not limited to, amount,
distribution, and suitability; (C) conservation measures that have been
implemented that benefit the species; (D) status and trends of threats;
and (E) other new information, data, or corrections including, but not
limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of
erroneous information contained in the List, and improved analytical
methods. NMFS
[[Page 46968]]
concluded that the status of the Hawaiian monk seal remains
``endangered''.
NMFS announced the initiation of the 5-year review and requested
information from the public on January 22, 2007 (72 FR 2650).
Information was received from the Ocean Conservancy and the Marine
Mammal Commission.
Conclusion
NMFS revised the final Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Monk Seal and
evaluated all comments received by the public as well as independent
peer-reviewers. NMFS has also completed the first 5-year review for the
Hawaiian Monk Seal based on public comments received and internal
review. NMFS concludes that both the Recovery Plan and the 5-year
review meet the requirements of the ESA.
Dated: August 16, 2007.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-16600 Filed 8-21-07; 8:45 am]
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