[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34074-34076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16519]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Exports of Live American Alligators

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has received 
information that raises concerns on the conservation implications of 
the export of live American alligators. This notice is to request 
submission to the Service of any information that may be available on 
the impacts of exports of live American alligators. In addition, the 
Service recently denied an application, and other current applications 
in process raise questions concerning eligibility. The Service 
announces review of all available information relating to such export 
to determine to what extent the export of live alligators meet the 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna 
and Flora (CITES) and Service criteria for permit issuance. This will 
allow the agency to examine the potential impacts of future exports of 
American alligators on the species, on other crocodilians, and on 
American alligator conservation programs. Information collected will be 
used in evaluating current and future permit applications to ensure 
that any permits issued comply fully with all requirements, including 
Executive Order 11987, Exotic Organisms. If requested, a public meeting 
or meetings will be used to assist the Service in analyzing the 
information. While the Service will continue to review applications on 
a case-by-case basis, any general policy or determinations developed as 
a result of this review will be published in the Federal Register for 
notice and comment. Applications for export of live American alligators 
for scientific research, for zoological display, or as personal pets 
appear to continue to be generally eligible for permits and will be 
evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

DATES: The Service will consider all information and comments received 
by August 25, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Please send comments to Chief, Office of Management 
Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 430, Arlington, Virginia 
22203. Express and messenger deliveries should be addressed to the same 
address. Materials received will be available for public inspection by 
appointment from 7:45 am to 4:15 pm, Monday through Friday, at the 
Office of Management Authority.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Stansell, Chief, Office of 
Management Authority, phone 703-358-2095, fax 703-358-2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management Authority has 
recently received requests from the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish 
Commission and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that 
the Service review the criteria for issuance of permits for commercial 
export of live American alligators and to restrict issuance of permits 
until a review is completed. Both States have a number of conservation 
concerns about the export of these animals. In addition, the IUCN 
Crocodile Specialist Group has provided the Service with information 
that emphasizes the serious ecological consequences of establishing 
feral populations of exotic species of crocodilians, especially in 
areas with native crocodilians.
    Each permit application must be carefully evaluated to ensure 
compliance with all applicable regulations and executive orders before 
a permit can be issued. For American alligators, their parts, or 
products, an export permit can only be issued if the Service can 
determine:
    1. That the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the 
species (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, 23.15(d)(1));
    2. That the animals to be exported were not obtained in violation 
of laws for their protection (50 CFR 23.15(d)(2);
    3. That the authorization requested does not potentially threaten a 
wildlife population (50 CFR 13.21(b)(4)); and

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    4. That the requirements of Executive Order 11987, Exotic 
Organisms, are met. (This Executive Order requires ``Executive agencies 
* * * to restrict the use of Federal funds, programs, or authorities 
used to export native species for the purpose of introducing such 
species into ecosystems outside the United States where they do not 
naturally occur.'' In this instance, introduction is defined to include 
``the release, escape, or establishment of an exotic species into a 
natural ecosystem.''
    In relation to Executive Order 11987, Exotic Organisms, there has 
been an increasing awareness at the international level of the problems 
associated with species that are, inadvertently or otherwise, 
introduced into ecosystems where they do not usually occur (also 
referred to as alien species). International conservation bodies have 
recently addressed these issues and the problems associated with them. 
In July 1996, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the 
Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNESCO, and the 
Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) of the 
International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) sponsored a 
Conference on Alien Species in Trondheim, Norway. This Conference 
provided a forum for dialogue among scientists and policy makers on 
research and management issues related to alien species, contributed to 
ongoing deliberations in international and national fora dealing with 
these issues, and developed a sound scientific knowledge base on issues 
related to alien species.
    At the World Conservation Congress in October 1996, the IUCN/SSC 
Invasive Species Specialist Group conducted a workshop on ``Dealing 
with Alien Invasive Species.'' During the course of this workshop, 
draft guidelines for the prevention of biodiversity loss due to 
biological invasion were made available for further discussion and 
consideration. The IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group is 
developing a global database of invasive species. The IUCN workshop was 
followed by further discussion of the invasive species issue at the 
Third Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological 
Diversity (CBD) held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in November 1996.
    In response to concern over this issue, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service has prepared a discussion document entitled ``Trade in Alien 
Species.'' The Service has asked that the topic be included on the 
agenda of the meeting of the tenth CITES Conference of the Parties 
which will be held in June 1997 in Zimbabwe. The paper notes that: ``In 
the United States, well over 300 nonindigenous fish and wildlife 
species of foreign origin have already established free-living 
populations, approximately 122 of which are causing harm and 
threatening biodiversity (Office of Technology Assessment 1993). 
Although some of these species were introduced intentionally, many 
became established by accident. The risk of deleterious introductions, 
both intentional and unintentional, from species in international 
commercial trade remains grave.''
    The IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group has contacted the Service 
outlining its concern about ``the potentially serious ecological 
consequences of establishing feral populations of exotic species of 
crocodilians, including competition with native species, impact on prey 
species, interbreeding with native crocodilians and introduction of 
diseases * * *. The Crocodile Specialist Group of the SCC/IUCN 
RECOMMENDS that crocodile species should not be used for commercial 
farming operations outside their historical range where those 
operations are located within the range of other native species of 
crocodilians.'' This increased international focus is providing 
information that should be taken into consideration when permit 
applications are evaluated.
    In 1995, 10 CITES export permits were issued for the export of 592 
live American alligators. In 1996, 15 CITES export permits were issued 
for the export of 2,151 live American alligators. The Service currently 
has several applications for export of a total of over 2,300 American 
alligators. Some applicants have already stated that they plan to apply 
for additional export permits for live American alligators. One 
application has been denied.
    In order to ensure that any export permits issued fully comply with 
Executive Order 11987 as well as all other requirements, the Service is 
seeking information on the possible conservation impacts of export of 
live American alligators, including impacts on State management 
programs for this species in the United States, and on the potential 
deleterious effects of exported live American alligators on ecosystems 
outside their natural range into which they may be introduced. 
Information collected will be used in evaluating current and future 
applications to ensure that any permits issued are issued in compliance 
with all current requirements. Applications for export of American 
alligators, including those for scientific research, for zoological 
display, or as personal pets, will be evaluated on a case-by-case 
basis. After a review of the potential impacts of live American 
alligator export on the status of wild American alligator populations 
in the United States, as well as a review of whether or not the export 
may be detrimental to any wildlife or plant population into which the 
American alligators may be introduced. Any determinations or general 
policy will be published in the Federal Register for notice and 
comment.

Information Requested

    In response to information provided to the Service that raises 
concerns about the way in which applications for export of live 
American alligators are evaluated, the increasing number of 
applications for export of live American alligators, and statements 
from applicants that more applications for export would be forthcoming, 
the Service is seeking additional information and public input about 
the conservation impacts of commercial export of live American 
alligators and/or their eggs. Information sought would include: (1) 
potential deleterious effects of exported live American alligators on 
ecosystems outside their natural range into which they may 
(inadvertently or otherwise) be introduced; (2) potential impacts on 
State management programs for this species in the United States 
including the effectiveness of the programs and successful enforcement 
of legal trade in American alligator specimens; (3) potential effects 
of American alligators on other crocodilian species and their habitats 
in other countries (especially where examples can be cited); and (4) 
documented examples of effects of other crocodilians introduced outside 
of their native range. Because there is no ability to monitor 
subsequent re-export of specimens after the initial export from the 
United States, the Service is also soliciting comments regarding export 
of live American alligators to countries outside the range of any 
crocodilian.

Future Actions

    Comments received through this notice will be used in evaluating 
current and future applications for export of live American alligators. 
All information received in response to this notice will be thoroughly 
reviewed and evaluated, and a decision will be made on whether to 
develop a policy proposal on this issue. Applications for export of 
American alligators for scientific research, for zoological display, or 
as personal pets will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If 
requested in

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writing, the Service will hold public meetings concerning the issue.

    Dated: June 17, 1997.
 Jay L. Gerst,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 97-16519 Filed 6-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P