Notice2024-31175
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of the 5-Year Review of the Island Grouper (Mycteroperca fusca)
Primary source
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Published
December 31, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
We, NMFS, announce the initiation of the 5-year review of the threatened island grouper (Mycteroperca fusca). The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years to determine whether a species should be removed from the list (i.e., delisted), reclassified from an endangered species to a threatened species (i.e., downlisted), or reclassified from a threatened species to an endangered species (i.e., uplisted). The determination must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we request relevant information (e.g., biology, threats, and conservation efforts) that has become available since our previous review of the species.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 107110-107111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31175]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE566]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of the 5-Year
Review of the Island Grouper (Mycteroperca fusca)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the initiation of the 5-year review of the
threatened island grouper (Mycteroperca fusca). The Endangered Species
Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least
once every 5 years to determine whether a species should be removed
from the list (i.e., delisted), reclassified from an endangered species
to a threatened species (i.e., downlisted), or reclassified from a
threatened species to an endangered species (i.e., uplisted). The
determination must be based on the best scientific and commercial data
available at the time of the review. Therefore, we request relevant
information (e.g., biology, threats, and conservation efforts) that has
become available since our previous review of the species.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct the 5-year review, we must
receive your information no later than March 3, 2025. While we accept
new information about any listed species at any time, information
received after the date stated above may not be considered for the
purposes of this review.
ADDRESSES: Submit your information electronically via the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and enter NOAA-
NMFS-2024-0149 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Instructions: We may not consider comments or other information if
sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or
received after the date stated above. All comments and information
received are a part of the public record, and we will post the comments
for public viewing on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. All personal
identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected
information. We will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alison Verkade, NMFS Office of
Protected Resources, (301) 427-8074, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3554595c465a5b1b4350475e545150755b5a54541b525a43"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e2838e8b918d8ccc94879089838687a28c8d8383cc858d94">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our initiation of the
island grouper (Mycteroperca fusca) 5-year review. Section 4(c)(2) of
the ESA requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least once
every 5 years to determine whether species should be removed from the
list, changed in status from an endangered species to a threatened
species, or changed in status from a threatened species to an
endangered species (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(2)). Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA
requires us to determine whether any species is an endangered or
threatened species because of any of the following factors: (A) the
present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its
habitat or range; (B)
[[Page 107111]]
overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the inadequacy of
existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or manmade factors
affecting its continued existence (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(1)). Section
4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA requires us to make the determination based
solely on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time
of the review and after taking into account efforts to protect the
species (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(1)(A)). Regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require
that we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing species
currently under active review. Based on such reviews, we determine
whether a species should be delisted or reclassified (50 CFR 424.21).
Any such change (i.e., delisting or reclassification) would require a
separate rulemaking process.
We last performed a review of the island grouper in 2015 prior to
its listing as a threatened species under the ESA (81 FR 72545, October
20, 2016). Background information on the species is available on the
NMFS website at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/island-grouper/overview">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/island-grouper/overview</a>.
Public Solicitation of Relevant Information
To ensure that the 5-year review is based on the best scientific
and commercial data available, we are soliciting information from the
public, governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community,
industry, environmental organizations, and any other interested
parties. We request information that has become available since the
previous review was published in 2015. Categories of requested
information include: (1) species biology including, but not limited to,
abundance, population trends, demographics, distribution, and
diversity; (2) habitat conditions including, but not limited to,
amount, distribution, suitability, and important features for
conservation; (3) degree, nature, and trends of threats to the species
and its habitats, especially those factors described in section 4(a)(1)
of the ESA and listed above; (4) conservation efforts that have been
implemented to benefit the species, including monitoring data
demonstrating the effectiveness of such efforts; and (5) other
information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to,
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes and improved analytical methods for
evaluating extinction risk.
If you wish to provide information for the review, please submit
your information and materials electronically (see ADDRESSES section).
We request that all information be accompanied by supporting
documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of
pertinent publications.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: December 20, 2024.
Lisa Manning,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-31175 Filed 12-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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