[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 12146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05192]



[[Page 12146]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC598


Endangered and Threatened Species; Availability of the Final 
Recovery Plan for Staghorn and Elkhorn Corals

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 of a Final Endangered Species Act recovery plan for elkhorn 
coral and staghorn coral. The Final Recovery Plan (Plan) for Elkhorn 
Coral (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) is 
now available.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Plan are available on the NMFS Web 
site at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm and on the 
Southeast Regional Office Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/coral/.
    A copy of the Plan can be obtained by writing to: Assistant 
Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, NMFS, Southeast 
Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Attn: 
Acropora Recovery Plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alison Moulding (727-824-5312), email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) requires NMFS to develop and implement recovery plans for 
the conservation and survival of threatened and endangered species, 
unless it is determined that such plans would not result in the 
conservation of the species. NMFS designated elkhorn and staghorn 
corals as ``threatened'' under the ESA in May 2006. In September 2014, 
NMFS published a final rule maintaining the status of elkhorn and 
staghorn corals as threatened species. NMFS published a Notice of 
Availability and requested public comments on the Draft Recovery Plan 
for Elkhorn Coral and Staghorn Coral (Draft Plan) in the Federal 
Register on September 5, 2014. We revised the Draft Plan based on the 
comments received, and this final version now constitutes the Recovery 
Plan for Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn Coral (Acropora 
cervicornis).

The Final Plan

    Recovery plans describe actions beneficial for the conservation and 
recovery of species listed under the ESA. Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA 
requires that recovery plans incorporate, to the maximum extent 
practicable: (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 listed species unless a recovery plan would not 
promote a species' conservation.
    The purpose of the Plan is to rebuild and assure the long-term 
viability of elkhorn and staghorn coral populations in the wild, 
allowing ultimately for the species' removal from the federal list of 
endangered and threatened species. The goal of the Plan is to increase 
the abundance and to protect the genetic diversity of elkhorn and 
staghorn coral populations throughout their geographical ranges while 
sufficiently abating threats to warrant delisting of both species. 
Elkhorn and staghorn coral populations should be large enough to 
include numerous groups of successfully reproducing individuals, 
including thickets, across the historical range of these species. These 
groups should be large enough to protect genetic diversity and maintain 
ecosystem function. The recovery approach includes research and 
monitoring to identify, reduce, or eliminate threats so the recovery 
objectives outlined in the Plan have the greatest likelihood of being 
achieved. Because some threats to elkhorn and staghorn corals cannot be 
directly managed (e.g., disease), the Plan pursues concurrent actions 
to address both global and local threats. Population enhancement is 
also an integral part of elkhorn and staghorn recovery through 
restoration, restocking, and active management. Ecosystem-level actions 
are identified to improve habitat quality and restore community 
structure and ecological functions, such as herbivory, to sustain adult 
colonies and enable successful recruitment in the wild over the long 
term. The goal, objectives, and criteria of the Plan represent NMFS' 
expectation of conditions to recover elkhorn and staghorn corals so 
they no longer need the protective measures provided by the ESA.
    The recovery criteria in the Plan are based on the current 
literature and expert consensus. In some cases, the current best 
available information is so limited that it is not practicable to 
identify recovery criteria. Instead, interim criteria are identified to 
gather and obtain the information necessary to establish final recovery 
criteria. Recovery criteria can be viewed as targets, or values, by 
which progress toward achievement of recovery objectives can be 
measured. In the Plan we frame recovery criteria both in terms of 
population parameters (Population-based Recovery Criteria) and the five 
ESA listing factors (Threat-based Recovery Criteria). The Plan also 
includes the projected timeframe to recover elkhorn and staghorn corals 
and the cost of implementing actions.

Conclusion

    NMFS has reviewed the Plan for compliance with the requirements of 
ESA section 4(f), determined that it does incorporate the required 
elements, and is therefore adopting it as the Final Recovery Plan for 
elkhorn and staghorn corals.

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

    Dated: March 3, 2015.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-05192 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am]
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