ContactsCraig Rieben 703-358-2225, craig_rieben@fws.gov
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list one penguin species
as endangered and five penguin species as threatened under the Endangered Species
Act (ESA). The Service also found that three species of penguins do not warrant
listing throughout their range and is proposing listing one species as threatened
in a significant portion of its range.
The penguin species recommended for endangered status is the African penguin (Spheniscus
demersus), of South Africa and Namibia. After conducting a status review,
information available to the Service indicates that the African penguin is
in serious decline throughout its range due to competition with commercial
fishing, prey declines, predation, and oil pollution.
The five species recommended for threatened status are: the yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes
antipodes), the white-flippered penguin (Eudyptula minor albosignata),
the Fiordland crested penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus), the erect-crested
penguin (Eudyptes sclateri), all from New Zealand, as well as the
Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) of Chile and Peru.
Threats to these penguin species include commercial fishing, competition for
prey, habitat loss, disease, and predation. The Service also considered information
on longer term climate change impacts to these species.
The Service is proposing to list the Southern Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes
chrysocome) at three island groups off the coast of New Zealand. Based
on information available, the Service found that this species has suffered
declines in a significant area of its range, related to apparent changes in
prey abundance, but in other areas of the species range populations are stable
or increasing and that listing was not warranted in those areas.
The Service is seeking additional information on established and potential
threats to these species during the 60-day public comment period.
The Service also found that Endangered Species Act protection is not warranted
for the following three penguin species:
- The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), with range restricted
to Antarctica, was found to have stable populations. Review of the best available
scientific information found no significant threats to the current survival
of the emperor penguin and little or no evidence of current directional climate
change impacts on its habitat. While such change may occur in the future, existing
predictive models are not sufficiently advanced to allow reliable forecasting
of possible changes to emperor penguin habitat over the next 100 years. The
Service does not have sufficient scientific information to conclude that in
the foreseeable future, the habitat of the emperor penguin will be altered
to the point where the species is threatened with extinction.
- The Northern Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi), populations
were found to be stable in most areas, with moderate declines in one portion
of the population.
- The macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus), is perhaps the most
numerous penguin species. While declines linked to changes in prey abundance
and competition with seal species have been reported at South Georgia Island,
this remains an area of high macaroni penguin abundance.
Listing of penguins under the Endangered Species Act would make import or
export of specimens of these species without an ESA permit illegal. Such permits
are issued only if an activity has a conservation benefit and it is hoped listing
may help focus international attention on the species? conservation needs.
During the 60-day public comment period, the Service is soliciting scientific
and commercial information regarding the penguins proposed for protection under
the ESA, including;
- Information on population taxonomy, distribution, habitat selection and
trends (especially breeding and foraging habitats) diet, population abundance
and trends including current recruitment data;
- Information on effects of climate change and changing ocean, land or sea
ice conditions on the distribution and abundance of these penguin species and
their principal prey species over the short and long term (especially information
on known prey substitutions and their effects on the penguins);
- Information on the effects of other potential threat factors, including
commercial fishing activities, contaminants, habitat loss, harvest, predation
by other animals, and diseases of these species or their principal prey over
the short and long term;
- Information on management programs for penguin conservation, including mitigation
measures related to conservation programs, fisheries management, and any other
private, tribal, or governmental conservation programs which benefit these
species, and;
- Information concerning whether any populations of the species may qualify
as distinct population segments and comments on the appropriate conservation
status for the species proposed.
In addition, the Service will undertake a peer-review process to review the
findings for the species proposed for listing.
The Service welcomes new information concerning the status and threats to
the species not proposed to assist in monitoring the conservation status of
these other penguin species.
Public comments on the proposed rule may be submitted by one of the following
methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal:http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
- U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R9-IA-2008-0068
(for African penguin); Attn: FWS-R9-IA-2008-0069 (for Southern rockhopper penguin,
Campbell Plateau portion of its range); or FWS-R9-IA-2008-0118 (for yellow-eyed
penguin, white-flippered penguin, Fiordland crested penguin, erect-crested
penguin, and Humboldt penguin); Division of Policy and Directives Management;
U.S Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington,
VA 22203.
The Service cannot accept email or faxes. All comments received will be posted
on http://www.regulations.gov. This
generally means that the agency will post any personal information that may
be provided.
The Service's finding on these penguin species was made in response
to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity received on November
29, 2006.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to
conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted
partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence,
stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment
to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make
it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
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