[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61021-61022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17247]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101106C]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a Status Review 
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the Black Abalone

AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:  Notice; initiation of a status review under the ESA.

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the initiation of an ESA status review of 
the black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii), and we solicit information on 
the species.

DATES:  Information on the black abalone must be received by December 
18, 2006.

ADDRESSES:  You may submit information on the black abalone via mail to 
Melissa Neuman, NMFS, Southwest Region, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 
4200, Long Beach, CA, 90802-4213, e-mail at [email protected], or 
fax to 562-980-4027. Include in the subject line of any e-mail the 
following document identifier: Black abalone review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Neuman, (562) 980-4115, 
[email protected], or Marta Nammack, (301)713-1401, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We initiated an informal ESA status review 
of the black abalone on July 15, 2003, and we conducted a biological 
scoping workshop on January 29-30, 2004, which served to bring together 
individuals who have research experience with black abalone and/or 
experience conducting status reviews and/or stock assessments. A second 
workshop was convened on July 31-August 1, 2006, to discuss research

[[Page 61022]]

advancements since 2003, standardization of monitoring and assessment 
efforts, and gaps in our understanding of the species' long-term 
trends. At this time, we are formally announcing a status review of the 
black abalone. This species was harvested commercially and 
recreationally beginning in the mid-1800s with significant declines 
detected in the late 1970s, and withering syndrome continues to be a 
threat to the species.

Comments Solicited

    To support this status review, we are soliciting information on the 
following topics: (1) long-term trends in abundance throughout the 
species range; (2) potential factors for the species' decline 
throughout its range (e.g., overharvesting, natural predation, disease, 
habitat loss etc.); (3) status of the black abalone fishery in Mexico; 
(4) implication of low population size for black abalone conservation; 
(5) factors important for black abalone management; (6) current 
estimate of population size and available habitat; (7) knowledge of 
various life history parameters (size/age at maturity, fecundity, 
length of larval stage, larval dispersal dynamics, etc.); and (8) 
projections on population growth or decline and risk of extinction. See 
DATES and ADDRESSES for guidance on how, by when, and where to send 
information.

    Dated: October 10, 2006.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-17247 Filed 10-16-06; 8:45 am]
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