[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47338-47339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22624]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding 
for a Petition To List the Southern Population of Walleye as Endangered

agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

action: Notice of 12-month petition finding.

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summary: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 12-month 
finding for a petition to list the southern population of walleye 
(Stizostedion vitreum) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended. After review of all available scientific and commercial 
information, the Service finds that listing this species is not 
warranted at this time.

dates: The finding announced in this document was made on September 1, 
1995.

addresses: Data, information, comments, or questions pertaining to this 
petition should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Jackson Office, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, 
Mississippi 39213. The petition finding, supporting data, and comments 
are available for public inspection, by appointment during normal 
business hours at the above address.

for further information contact: Dr. Ron Larson at the above address 
(601-965-4900, ext. 27).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that, for any petition to 
revise the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants that 
presents substantial scientific and commercial information, the Service 
make a finding within 12 months of the date of the receipt of the 
petition on whether the petition action is: (a) not warranted, (b) 
warranted, or (c) warranted but precluded from immediate proposal by 
other pending proposals of higher priority. Section 4(b)(3)(C) requires 
that petitions for which the requested action is found to be warranted 
but precluded should be treated as though resubmitted on the date of 
such finding, that is, requiring a subsequent finding to be made within 
12 months. Such 12-month findings are to be published promptly in the 
Federal Register.
    On August 22, 1994, the Service received a petition dated August 
20, 1994, from Mr. Robert R. Reid, Jr., of Birmingham, Alabama, to 
emergency list the southern population of walleye (Stizostedion 
vitreum) as endangered. The Service made a 90-day finding, concluding 
that the petition and Service files contained substantial information 
indicating that the requested action may be warranted. An announcement 
of that finding was published in the Federal Register on March 13, 1995 
(60 FR 13397). A status review was initiated on March 13, 1995, and the 
public comment period was open between March 13, and May 12, 1995.
    The Service has reviewed the petition, literature cited in the 
petition, information received by the Service during the comment 
period, other available literature and information, and consulted with 
biologists and researchers familiar with the southern population of 
walleye. On the basis of the best scientific and commercial information 
available, the Service find that listing is not warranted at this time. 
The status review revealed that the southern population of walleye has 
likely declined; however, convincing data on biological vulnerability 
and range-wide threats are not available to support a proposed rule for 
listing at this time.
    Information obtained during the status review indicated that native 
walleye historically occurred in the lower Mississippi and Pearl rivers 
in Mississippi; in all eight Mobile Basin drainages in Alabama, 
Georgia, Mississippi, and in a small area of Tennessee; and in the 
Escambia River of Alabama (Brown 1962, Schultz 1971, Hackney and 
Holbrook 1978, Moss et al. 1985, Mettee et al. 1989a, 1989b). Genetic 
analyses, based on protein electrophoresis and mitochondrial-DNA, have 
demonstrated that the walleye native to the Mobile Basin is distinctive 
(Wingo 1982, Murphy 1990, Billington et al. 1992, Billington and 
Strange in press). This population, herein referred to as the 
``southern walleye,'' is currently known from seven Mobile Basin 
(Basin) drainages. The southern walleye is a large freshwater fish that 
reaches weights of 2 pounds (4 kg) or more (Schultz 1971, Moss et al. 
1985). Southern walleye occur mostly in rivers and larger streams, but 
they may also occur in impoundments and channelized rivers. They are 
migratory and move upstream, or into smaller streams in winter and 
early spring, to spawn on clean sand and gravel substrates (Schultz 
1971, Kingery and Muncy 1988).
    Southern walleye populations appear to be small. In fish surveys, 
they often comprise less than one percent of a collection (Brown 1962, 
Schultz 1971). However, adult walleye are frequently found in deep 
holes and associated with submerged logs; habitats that are not readily 
sampled. Based on what appear to be spawning runs, there are at least 
five potential spawning areas located throughout the Basin, but 
considering the walleye's extensive distribution, additional spawning 
sites are likely.
    The status review disclosed that the southern walleye has likely 
declined in population size and distribution owing to considerable 
habitat modification that has occurred over much of its range. Locks 
and dams block or restrict walleye movement and may inundate historic 
spawning habitat. Additional habitat has been altered by 
channelization, desnagging, gravel mining, and headcutting. Local 
declines in water quality from point and nonpoint source pollution also 
may affect stream reaches occupied by walleye. Angling may reduce 
reproduction in Alabama because mature fish are caught when 
concentrated at spawning sites.
    Some of the major threats, e.g., dam construction, channelization, 
and water pollution, appear to have recently stabilized. Illegal gravel 
mining remains a problem in several coastal plain areas because of 
inadequate detection and enforcement. Headcutting continues to be a 
threat in areas such as the upper Tombigbee where geomorphic 
instability has resulted from channelization, gravel dredging, and 
other channel modifications (Hartfield 1992). However, these problems 
are 

[[Page 47339]]
localized in relatively small portions of the southern walleye's known 
and potential range within the Basin. The review identified several 
potential threats to two spawning sites, but there was insufficient 
data to infer that other spawning areas are threatened.
    Despite these identified threats, the Service found that an 
accurate assessment of the current status and population trends of the 
southern walleye was not possible due to a lack of recent and historic 
information on populations (e.g., distribution and abundance within 
drainages), and number, location, and condition of spawning sites. The 
status review identified only one comprehensive report on the walleye's 
status (Schultz 1971), and that report covered only a small portion of 
the species' range.
    The Service believes that the southern walleye is still 
sufficiently abundant that timely management and conservation efforts 
can improve its status. Attempts by the State of Mississippi to enhance 
southern walleye populations by closing fishing and operating an 
experimental walleye hatchery are meritorious. Similar efforts by other 
states could enhance southern walleye populations throughout its range.
    The Service will retain the southern walleye as a species of 
concern and continue to seek information on the species and monitor its 
status. If additional data become available, the Service may reassess 
the need for listing and propose listing as necessary.
    Further details regarding the biological status of the species are 
contained in the administrative finding, which can be obtained by 
contacting the office indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice.

References Cited

    A complete list of all references cited herein, as well as others, 
is available upon request from the Jackson Field Office (see 
ADDRESSES).

Author

    The primary author of this document is Dr. Ron Larson, Jackson, 
Mississippi, Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: September 1, 1995.
John G. Rogers,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 95-22624 Filed 9-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M