[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 216 (Thursday, November 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66031-66032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26543]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL10


Endangered and Threatened Species; Status Review of Southeast 
Alaska Population of Pacific Herring; Request for Information

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

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, NMFS, request information, data, and comments pertinent to 
a risk assessment as part of a status review of the Southeast Alaska 
population of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi). On April 11, 2008, we 
initiated a status review of this herring stock under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA). In conducting this status review, we now seek 
information regarding the stock's population structure and trends, 
current conditions of its habitat, known and anticipated threats to the 
viability of the population, and efforts being made to protect the 
species.

DATES: Information, data, and comments must be received by December 8, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Data, information, or comments may be submitted to Kaja 
Brix, Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian.
    You may submit information by any of the following methods:
    1. Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
    2. Hand deliver to the Federal Building at 709 West 9th Street, 
Juneau AK.
    3. Fax: (907) 586-7557
    4. Email: seakherring@ noaa.gov. Please include ``SEAKHerring'' as 
an identifier in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Savage, NMFS Alaska Region (907) 
586-7312, or Kaja Brix, NMFS Alaska Region, (907) 586-7235.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 2, 2007, we received a petition from the Juneau Group of 
the Sierra Club, Juneau, Alaska, to list the Lynn Canal stock of 
Pacific herring as a threatened or endangered species under the ESA and 
to concurrently designate critical habitat. After a review of the 
petition, we determined that the petitioned action was warranted and 
published a 90-day finding (72 FR 51619; September 10, 2007) that 
formally initiated a status review of the stock and requested 
information and comment from the public. A Biological Review Team 
(BRT), composed of Federal scientists with expertise in Pacific herring 
biology and ecology, was convened to conduct the status review. The BRT 
reviewed existing research and information, including both published 
and unpublished literature and data on herring stocks throughout the 
eastern North Pacific.
    Based on information contained in the status review produced by the 
BRT, we published our finding (73 FR 19824; April 11, 2008) that 
listing the Lynn Canal Pacific herring as threatened or endangered 
under the ESA was not warranted because the population does not 
constitute a species, subspecies, or distinct population segment (DPS) 
under the ESA. Rather, the status review concluded that the Lynn Canal 
Pacific herring stock is part of a larger Southeast Alaska DPS, 
extending to Dixon Entrance in the south, where the Southeast Alaska 
stock is genetically distinguished from the British Columbia stock; and 
to Cape Fairweather and Icy Point in the north, where the stock is 
limited by physical and ecological barriers. The status review further 
concluded that the DPS to which Lynn Canal Pacific herring belong 
should be considered a candidate species under the ESA. In the April 
11, 2008, notice in the Federal Register, we therefore announced the 
initiation of a status review of the Southeast Alaska Pacific herring 
DPS. The status review for this stock will include an analysis of risk 
extinction, an assessment of the factors listed under section 4(a)(1) 
of the ESA, and an evaluation of conservation efforts for the DPS as a 
whole.

Information Solicited

    With this notice, we request any information, data, or comments 
pertinent to the status review of the Southeast Alaska Pacific herring 
DPS, specifically concerning: (1) existing and historical population 
abundance; (2) existing and historical habitat location and condition; 
(3) population structure; (4) known and anticipated threats to 
Southeast Alaska Pacific herring, including destruction or modification 
of habitat, overutilization, disease or predation, inadequate 
regulatory

[[Page 66032]]

mechanisms, or any other natural or human factors; and (5) efforts 
being made to protect the species.
    The Lynn Canal Pacific herring status review is available at: 
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/herring/.

    Dated: October 27, 2008.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26543 Filed 11-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S