Notice2025-07903
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Abalone
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 7, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a request to renew an existing scientific research and enhancement permit for white abalone. The proposed work is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management, conservation, and recovery efforts. The application may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/ preview_open_for_comment.cfm.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 87 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19283-19284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-07903]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE847]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Abalone
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of application to renew one scientific
research and enhancement permit; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a request to
renew an existing scientific research and enhancement permit for white
abalone. The proposed work is intended to increase knowledge of species
listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide
management, conservation, and recovery efforts. The application may be
viewed online at: <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm</a>.
DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the application
must be received at the provided email address (see ADDRESSES) on or
before June 6, 2025.
ADDRESSES: All written comments on the application should be submitted
by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ff9192998cd1889c8dd29e8f8f8cbf91909e9ed1989089"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f7999a9184d9809485da96878784b799989696d9909881">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include the permit number
(18116-2R) in the subject line of the email.
Anyone requesting a hearing on the application listed in this
notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on the
application would be appropriate, submitted by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#422c2f24316c3521306f23323231022c2d23236c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d43404b5e035a4e5f004c5d5d5e6d43424c4c034a425b">[email protected]</span></a>. Such hearings are held at the discretion of the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Wang, Long Beach, CA (email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#35664046545b1b62545b52755b5a54541b525a43"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aefddbddcfc080f9cfc0c9eec0c1cfcf80c9c1d8">[email protected]</span></a>; phone: (562) 980-4199). Permit application
instructions are available from the address above, or online at <a href="https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov">https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
The following listed species are covered in this notice:
Endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni).
Authority
Scientific research and enhancement permits are issued in
accordance with section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
and regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR
parts 222-226). NMFS issues permits based on findings that such
permits: (1) are applied for in good faith; (2) if granted and
exercised, would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species
that are the subject of the permit; and (3) are consistent with the
purposes and policy of section 2 of the ESA. The authority to take
listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits.
Application Received
Permit 18116-2R
The NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) has requested to renew a research
and enhancement permit that currently authorizes a field outplanting
program for white abalone. The permit allows the NMFS WCR and approved
partners to outplant captive-bred larval, juvenile, and adult white
abalone from captive facilities to various subtidal field sites along
the southern California coast and to monitor white abalone at these
sites over time. The requested permit renewal would allow these
activities to continue for an additional 5 years.
The purpose of the proposed research and enhancement activities is
to develop an effective strategy for recovering white abalone
throughout the species' range. The permit renewal would allow
researchers to continue outplanting efforts and optimizing methods
(including life stages, outplant densities, selection of outplant
sites) to maximize the growth and survival of outplanted abalone. The
proposed work would benefit the listed species by increasing the
numbers of white abalone in the wild to create self-sustaining
populations in locations where white abalone are close to or at local
extinction.
Activities would include field outplanting of white abalone at the
larval, juvenile, and adult stages, as well as post-outplant monitoring
to assess
[[Page 19284]]
the survival, distribution, growth, and health of outplanted abalone.
Captive-reared larval abalone would be outplanted using polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) larval pump modules into plankton net ``tents'' designed
to retain larvae until settlement. Captive-bred juveniles and small
adults would be outplanted using semi-protected, non-permanent cages to
provide temporary shelter and initial protection from predators.
Captive-bred adults would be hand-placed in aggregations. All
outplanting would be conducted within the Southern California Bight and
would use white abalone maintained and collected under Enhancement
Permit 14344-3R, issued under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA to the
University of California, Davis--Bodega Marine Laboratory. Growth,
survival, genetics, health, and habitat quality would be monitored at
regular intervals following outplanting. Post-outplant monitoring would
primarily consist of observing, counting, and measuring the abalone,
and collecting tissue and fecal samples using non-lethal methods. The
researchers do not intend to kill any white abalone, but some may die
as an inadvertent result of the research and enhancement activities.
Dead and obviously unhealthy abalone as well as empty shells may be
collected for further analysis and for use in research, education, and
outreach.
This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS
will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments
submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements
of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit
decision will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment
period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the Federal
Register.
Dated: April 30, 2025.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-07903 Filed 5-6-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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