[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