[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 112 (Friday, June 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28062-28066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13799]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R9-FHC-2009-N0082; 40120-1113-4044-D2-FY09]


Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock Assessment Report

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft revised marine mammal stock 
assessment reports for two stocks of West Indian manatee; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (MMPA), and its implementing regulations, we, the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (Service), have developed a draft revised marine 
mammal stock assessment report (SAR) for each of the two West Indian 
manatee stocks in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico: The 
Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) stock and the Puerto 
Rico stock of Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus). Both are 
available for public review and comment.

DATES: We must receive comments by September 10, 2009.

ADDRESSES: To obtain the SARs for either or both of the West Indian 
manatee subspecies, and to submit comments, see Document Availability 
and Public Comment, respectively, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: West Indian Manatee in Florida: Jim 
Valade, (904) 731-3336 (telephone) or [email protected] (e-mail). 
West Indian Manatee in Puerto Rico: Carlos Diaz, (787) 851-7297 
(telephone) or [email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and its implementing 
regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 18, 
we regulate the taking, possession, transportation, purchasing, 
selling, offering for sale, exporting, and importing of marine mammals. 
One of the MMPA's goals is to ensure that stocks of marine mammals 
occurring in waters under U.S. jurisdiction do not experience a level 
of human-caused mortality and serious injury that is likely to cause 
the stock to be reduced below its optimum sustainable population level 
(OSP). OSP is defined as ``the number of animals which will result in 
the maximum productivity of the population or the

[[Page 28063]]

species, keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the habitat and the 
health of the ecosystem of which they form a constituent element.''
    To help accomplish the goal of maintaining marine mammal stocks at 
their OSPs, section 117 of the MMPA requires us and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) to prepare a SAR for each marine mammal stock 
that occurs in waters under U.S. jurisdiction. A SAR must be based on 
the best scientific information available; therefore, we prepare it in 
consultation with established regional scientific review groups. Each 
SAR must include: (1) A description of the stock and its geographic 
range; (2) a minimum population estimate, maximum net productivity 
rate, and current population trend; (3) an estimate of human-caused 
mortality and serious injury; (4) a description of commercial fishery 
interactions; (5) a categorization of the status of the stock; and (6) 
an estimate of the potential biological removal (PBR) level. The PBR is 
defined as ``the maximum number of animals, not including natural 
mortalities, that may be removed from a marine mammal stock while 
allowing that stock to reach or maintain its OSP.'' The PBR is the 
product of the minimum population estimate of the stock 
(Nmin); one-half the maximum theoretical or estimated net 
productivity rate of the stock at a small population size 
(Rmax); and a recovery factor (Fr) of between 0.1 
and 1.0, which is intended to compensate for uncertainty and unknown 
estimation errors.
    Section 117 of the MMPA also requires us and NMFS to review the 
SARs (a) at least annually for stocks that are specified as strategic 
stocks, (b) at least annually for stocks for which significant new 
information is available, and (c) at least once every 3 years for all 
other stocks.
    A strategic stock is defined in the MMPA as a marine mammal stock 
(a) for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the 
PBR; (b) which, based on the best available scientific information, is 
declining and is likely to be listed as a threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 
ESA), within the foreseeable future; or (c) which is listed as a 
threatened or endangered species under the ESA, or is designated as 
depleted under the MMPA.
    The following table summarizes the information we are now making 
available in the draft revised SARs for the Florida and Puerto Rico 
stocks of the West Indian manatee, listing each stock's 
Nmin, Rmax, Fr, PBR, annual estimated 
human-caused mortality and serious injury, and status. After 
consideration of any public comments we receive, we will revise the 
SARs for one or both subspecies, as appropriate. We will publish a 
notice of availability and summary of the final SARs, including 
responses to comments we receive.

                  Table 1--Summary: Draft Revised Stock Assessment Reports, West Indian Manatee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual estimated
                                                                       average human-
    West Indian Manatee Stocks:       Nmin    Rmax     Fr      PBR    caused mortality         Stock status
                                                                     and serious injury
                                                                      (5-year average)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida............................   3,807    0.06     0.1      12                  87  Strategic
Puerto Rico........................      72    0.04     0.1       0                   2  Strategic
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Document Availability

Draft Revised SAR for West Indian Manatee in Florida

    You may obtain a copy by any one of the following methods:
     Internet: http://www.fws.gov/northflorida.
     Write to or visit (during normal business hours) the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville Field Office, 
7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256-7517; telephone: 
(904) 731-3336.

Draft Revised SAR for West Indian Manatee in Puerto Rico

    You may obtain a copy by any one of the following methods:
     Internet: http://www.fws.gov/caribbean/es/Endangered-Animals.html.
     Write to or visit (during normal business hours) the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Field Office, 
Carr 301, KM 5.1, BQ Corozo, or P.O Box 491, Boqueron, PR 00622; 
telephone: (787) 851-7297.

Public Comment

Draft Revised SAR for West Indian Manatee in Florida

    You may submit a written comment by any one of the following 
methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail or hand-delivery: Field Supervisor, Jacksonville 
Field Office (see address above).
     Fax: (904) 731-3045.

Draft Revised SAR for West Indian Manatee in Puerto Rico

    You may submit a written comment by any one of the following 
methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail or hand-delivery: Field Supervisor, Caribbean Field 
Office (see address above).
     Fax: (787) 851-7440.

References

    In accordance with the MMPA, we include in this notice a list of 
the information sources and public reports upon which we based the 
SARs.

Florida Manatee Stock:

Ackerman, B.B., S.D. Wright, R.K. Bonde, D.K. Odell, and D.J. 
Banowetz. 1995. Trends and patterns in mortality of manatees in 
Florida, 1974-1992. Pages 223-258 in T.J. O'Shea, B.B. Ackerman, and 
H.F. Percival, editors. Population Biology of the Florida Manatee. 
National Biological Service, Information and Technology Report No. 
1. Washington, DC.
Beck, C.A. 2007a. USGS FISC Sirenia Project. Personal communication 
to Jim Valade, USFWS. Unpublished Manatee Individual Photo-
Identification System (MIPS) data, number of manatees with 
entanglement-related scars, 1974 to 2007. Available from: USFWS 
Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Beck, C.A. 2007b. USGS FISC Sirenia Project. Personal communication 
to Dawn Jennings, USFWS. Unpublished Manatee Individual Photo-
Identification System (MIPS) data, records of identifiable manatees 
moving between management units, 1974 to 2007. Available from: USFWS 
Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Beck, C.A. and N.B. Barros. 1991. The impact of debris on the 
Florida manatee. Marine Pollution Bulletin 22:508-510.
Beck, C.A. and L.W. Lefebvre. 1995. Are female manatees more 
vulnerable to entanglement in crab trap lines? Abstract. Eleventh 
Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Orlando, FL. 
December 14-18, 1995.
Bonde, R.K., T.J. O'Shea, and C.A. Beck. 1983. Manual of procedures 
for the salvage

[[Page 28064]]

and necropsy of carcasses of the West Indian manatee Trichechus 
manatus. NTIS PB83-255273. Springfield, VA. 175 pp.
Bowles, A.E., T. Yack, C. Alves, R. Anderson and N.M. Adimey. 2003. 
Experimental studies of manatee entanglement in crab traps. 
Abstract. Fifteenth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine 
Mammals, Greensboro, NC. December 14-19, 2003.
Bowles, A.E. 2000. Manatee behaviors in the presence of fishing 
gear: response to novelty and the potential for reducing gear 
interactions. Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, San Diego, CA. 
Annual report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 16+ pp.
Brooks, W.B. 1999. Manatees, monofilament, crab traps and 
management. Abstract. Thirteenth Biennial Conference on the Biology 
of Marine Mammals, Wailea, Maui, HI. November 28 to December 3, 
1999.
Buergelt, C.D., R.K. Bonde, C.A. Beck, and T.J. O'Shea. 1984. 
Pathologic findings in manatees in Florida. Journal of the American 
Veterinary Medicine Association 11:1331-1334.
Craig, B.A. and J.E. Reynolds, III. 2004. Determination of manatee 
population trends along the Atlantic coast of Florida using a 
Bayesian approach with temperature-adjusted aerial survey data. 
Marine Mammal Science 20(3):386-400.
Deutsch, C.J., B.B. Ackerman, T.D. Pitchford, and S.A. Rommel. 2002. 
Trends in manatee mortality in Florida. Abstract. Manatee Population 
Ecology and Management Workshop, Gainesville, FL. April 1-4, 2002.
Deutsch, C.J., R.K. Bonde, and J.P. Reid. 1998. Radio-tracking 
manatees from land and space: tag design, implementation, and 
lessons learned from long-term study. Marine Technology Society 
Journal 32(1):18-29.
Deutsch, C.J., J.P. Reid, R.K. Bonde, D.E. Easton, H.I. Kochman, and 
T.J. O'Shea. 2003. Seasonal movements, migratory behavior and site 
fidelity of West Indian manatees along the Atlantic Coast of the 
United States. Wildlife Monographs 151:1-77.
Fertl, D., A.J. Schiro, G.T. Regan, C.A. Beck, N.M. Adimey, L. 
Price-May, A. Amos, G.A.J. Worthy and R. Crossland. 2005. Manatee 
occurrence in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, west of Florida. Gulf and 
Caribbean Research 17:69-74.
FWC. 2009. ``Blue crab closed seasons approved to aid cleanups.'' 
News release, dated February 5, 2009. 1 p.
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FWC FWRI. 2007. Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: species account for 
blue crab in Florida. BLUE CRAB, unpublished report. 8 pp.
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USA. Accessed September 22, 2008. Available from http://www.floridamarine.org/features/category_sub.asp?id=2241.
Fonnesbeck, C.J, and Runge, M.C. 2007. Estimating the relative 
contribution of anthropogenic causes of death to Florida manatee 
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Hare, M.P. and J.G. Mead. 1987. Handbook for the determination of 
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Hartley, W.C. 2006. FDEP Blue Springs State Park. Personal 
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winter count of manatees observed at Blue Springs State Park during 
the 2006-2007 winter season. Available from: USFWS Jacksonville 
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Hartman, D.S. 1979. Ecology and behavior of the manatee (Trichechus 
manatus) in Florida. American Society of Mammalogists Special 
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Higgs, K. 2007a. FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Personal 
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Photo-identification System (MIPS) data, number of manatees with 
entanglement-related scars, 1974 to 2007. Available from: USFWS 
Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Higgs, K. 2007b. FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Personal 
communication to Dawn Jennings, USFWS. Unpublished Manatee 
Individual Photo-identification System (MIPS) data, records of 
identifiable manatees moving between management units, 1974 to 2007. 
Available from: USFWS Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 
32256.
Kellogg, M.E. 2008. Sirenian conservation genetics and Florida 
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Kendall, W.L., C.A. Langtimm, C.A. Beck, and M.C. Runge. 2004. 
Capture-recapture analysis for estimating manatee reproductive 
rates. Marine Mammal Science 20(3):424-437.
Kleen, J.M. 2006. USFWS Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. 
Personal communication to Dawn Jennings, USFWS. Communication re: 
highest winter count of manatees observed in Kings Bay and Crystal 
River, Citrus County, FL. Available from: USFWS Jacksonville Field 
Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Koelsch, J.K., N.M. Adimey, and A.E. Bowles. 2003. Effects of the 
blue crab fishery on marine wildlife in Florida waters: Impacts and 
mitigation efforts. Abstract. Fifteenth Biennial Conference on the 
Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC. December 14-19, 2003.
Koelsch, J.K. 2001. Reproduction in female manatees observed in 
Sarasota Bay, Florida. Marine Mammal Science 17(2):331-342.
Langtimm, C.A., C.A Beck, H.H. Edwards, B.B. Ackerman, K.J. Fick-
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Florida manatees from the photo-identification of individuals. 
Marine Mammal Science 20(3):438-463.
Lefebvre, L.W., M. Marmontel, J.P. Reid, G.B. Rathbun, and D.P. 
Domning. 2001. Status and biogeography of the West Indian manatee. 
Pages 425-474 in C.A. Woods and F.E. Sergile, editors. Biogeography 
of the West Indies: Patterns and Perspectives. CRC Press, Boca 
Raton, FL. 582 pp.
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O'Shea, T.J., C.A. Beck, R.K. Bonde, H.I. Kochman, and D.K. Odell. 
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Rathbun, G.B., R.K. Bonde, and D. Clay. 1982. The status of the West 
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Department of Natural Resources, Game and Fish Division, Social 
Circle, GA.
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model of

[[Page 28065]]

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Essential Fish

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Authority

    The authority for this action is the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et al.).

    Dated: June 3, 2009.
 Marvin Moriarty,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E9-13799 Filed 6-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P