[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 110 (Friday, June 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34347-34348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13527]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC431


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plan for the North 
Pacific Right Whale

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 
adoption and availability of the final Recovery Plan (Plan) for the 
North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica).

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final Recovery Plan are available 
online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Bettridge (301-427-8402), 
email [email protected] or Larissa Plants (301-427-8403), 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Recovery plans describe actions beneficial to the conservation and 
recovery of species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA 
requires that recovery plans incorporate: (1) Objective, measurable 
criteria which, when met, would result in a determination that the 
species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-specific 
management actions necessary to achieve the Plan's goals; and (3) 
estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery actions. 
The ESA requires the development of recovery plans for each

[[Page 34348]]

listed species unless such a plan would not promote its recovery.
    The Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) has been listed as 
``endangered'' under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since its passage 
in 1973. In 2008, NMFS determined that the Northern right whale should 
be listed as two separate species, the North Pacific right whale and 
the North Atlantic right whale. North Pacific right whales historically 
had a wide distribution in the Pacific Ocean, but the population was 
dramatically reduced by extensive commercial whaling, now prohibited by 
the International Whaling Commission. Scientists estimate that less 
than 1,000 individuals remain. Of the commercially exploited ``great 
whales,'' the North Pacific right whale is one of the least well 
studied, and the current status of the North Pacific right whale 
population is poorly understood. Currently, the population structure of 
North Pacific right whales has not been adequately defined.
    Because the current status of North Pacific right whales is 
unknown, the primary purpose of the Recovery Plan is to provide a 
research strategy to obtain data necessary to determine distribution 
and estimate population abundance, trends, and structure and to 
identify factors that may be limiting North Pacific right whale 
recovery. Criteria for the reclassification of the North Pacific right 
whale are included in the Recovery Plan. In summary, the North Pacific 
right whale may be reclassified from endangered to threatened when all 
of the following have been met: (1) Given current and projected threats 
and environmental conditions, the North Pacific right whale population 
satisfies the risk analysis standard for threatened status (has no more 
than a 1 percent chance of extinction in 100 years) and has at least 
1,000 mature, reproductive individuals (consisting of at least 250 
mature females and at least 250 mature males in each population). 
Mature is defined as individuals known, estimated, or inferred to be 
capable of reproduction. Any factors or circumstances that are thought 
to substantially contribute to a real risk of extinction that cannot be 
incorporated into a Population Viability Analysis will be carefully 
considered before downlisting takes place; and (2) none of the known 
threats to North Pacific right whales are known to limit the continued 
growth of populations. Specifically, the factors in 4(a)(l) of the ESA 
are being or have been addressed: (A) The present or threatened 
destruction, modification or curtailment of a species' habitat or 
range; (B) overutilization for commercial, recreational or educational 
purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the inadequacy of existing 
regulatory mechanisms; and (E) other natural or manmade factors.
    The population will be considered for delisting if all of the 
following can be met: (1) Given current and projected threats and 
environmental conditions, the total North Pacific right whale 
population satisfies the risk analysis standard for unlisted status 
(has less than a 10 percent probability of becoming endangered in 20 
years). Any factors or circumstances that are thought to substantially 
contribute to a real risk of extinction that cannot be incorporated 
into a Population Viability Analysis will be carefully considered 
before delisting takes place; and (2) none of the known threats to 
North Pacific right whales are known to limit the continued growth of 
populations. Specifically, the factors in 4(a)(l) of the ESA are being 
or have been addressed. The time and cost to recovery is not 
predictable with the current information on North Pacific right whales. 
The difficulty in gathering data on North Pacific right whales and 
uncertainty about the success of passive acoustic monitoring in 
fulfilling data needs make it impossible to give a timeframe to 
recovery. While we are comfortable estimating costs for 50 years of 
plan implementation ($27.283 million), any projections beyond this date 
are likely to be too imprecise to predict. The anticipated date for 
removal from the endangered species list also cannot be determined 
because of the uncertainty in the success of recovery plan actions for 
North Pacific right whales. The effectiveness of many management 
activities is not known on a global level. Currently it is impossible 
to predict when such measures will bring the species to a point at 
which the protections provided by the ESA are no longer warranted, or 
even determine whether the species has recovered enough to be 
downlisted or delisted. In the future, as more information is obtained 
it should be possible to make more informative projections about the 
time to recovery, and its expense. NMFS has reviewed the Plan for 
compliance with the requirements of the ESA section 4(f), determined 
that it does incorporate the required elements, and is therefore 
adopting it as the Final Recovery Plan North Pacific Right Whales.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: June 4, 2013.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13527 Filed 6-6-13; 8:45 am]
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