[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 206 (Monday, October 26, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65175-65183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27147]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223 and 224

[Docket No. 150901797-5914-01]
RIN 0648-XE163


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; 90-Day Finding on a Petition 
To List the Thorny Skate as Threatened or Endangered Under the 
Endangered Species Act

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

ACTION: 90-day petition finding, request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list a 
``Northwest Atlantic Distinct Population Segment'' (DPS) or ``United 
States DPS'' of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) as threatened or 
endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the 
petition to list thorny skate presents substantial scientific or 
commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be 
warranted. We will conduct a review of the status of the species to 
determine if the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the 
status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and 
commercial information pertaining to this species from any interested 
party.

DATES: Information and comments on the subject action must be received 
by December 28, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, information, or data on this 
document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2015-0120, by either any of the 
following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0120. Click the ``Comment Now'' icon, 
complete the

[[Page 65176]]

required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Julie Crocker, NMFS 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, Protected Resources 
Division, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, USA.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by us. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. We will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Copies of the petition and related materials are available on our 
Web site at: http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/thorny-skate.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Crocker, Protected Resources 
Division, 978-281-9328, or Marta Nammack, NMFS-HQ, Protected Resources 
Office, (301) 427-8469.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 28, 2015, we received a petition from Defenders of Wildlife 
and Animal Welfare Institute to list a ``Northwest Atlantic DPS'' of 
thorny skate as threatened or endangered under the ESA, or, as an 
alternative, to list a ``United States DPS'' as threatened or 
endangered. The petition also requests that we designate critical 
habitat for thorny skate. Copies of the petition are available from us 
(see ADDRESSES, above) and can be found at: http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/thorny-skate.html.

ESA Statutory, Regulatory, and Policy Provisions and Evaluation 
Framework

    Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.), requires, to the maximum extent practicable, that within 90 
days of receipt of a petition to list a species as threatened or 
endangered, the Secretary of Commerce make a finding on whether that 
petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information 
indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted, and to promptly 
publish such finding in the Federal Register (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)(A)). 
When we find that substantial scientific or commercial information in a 
petition indicates the petitioned action may be warranted (a ``positive 
90-day finding''), we are required to promptly commence a review of the 
status of the species concerned, during which we will conduct a 
comprehensive review of the best available scientific and commercial 
information. In such cases, within 12 months of receipt of the 
petition, we must conclude the review with a finding as to whether, in 
fact, the petitioned action is warranted. Because the finding at the 
12-month stage is based on a more thorough review of the available 
information, as compared to the narrow scope of review at the 90-day 
stage, a ``may be warranted'' finding does not prejudge the outcome of 
the status review.
    Under the ESA, a listing determination may address a species, which 
is defined to also include subspecies and, for any vertebrate species, 
any DPS that interbreeds when mature (16 U.S.C. 1532(16)). A joint 
NMFS-U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (jointly, ``the Services'') 
policy clarifies the agencies' interpretation of the phrase ``distinct 
population segment'' for the purposes of listing, delisting, and 
reclassifying a species under the ESA (61 FR 4722; February 7, 1996). A 
species, subspecies, or DPS is ``endangered'' if it is in danger of 
extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, and 
``threatened'' if it is likely to become endangered within the 
foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range 
(ESA sections 3(6) and 3(20), respectively, 16 U.S.C. 1532(6) and 
(20)). Pursuant to the ESA and our implementing regulations, we 
determine whether species are threatened or endangered based on any one 
or a combination of the following five section 4(a)(1) factors: the 
present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of 
habitat or range; overutilization for commercial, recreational, 
scientific, or educational purposes; disease or predation; inadequacy 
of existing regulatory mechanisms; and any other natural or manmade 
factors affecting the species' existence (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(1), 50 CFR 
424.11(c)).
    ESA-implementing regulations issued jointly by NMFS and USFWS (50 
CFR 424.14(b)) define ``substantial information'' in the context of 
reviewing a petition to list, delist, or reclassify a species as the 
amount of information that would lead a reasonable person to believe 
that the measure proposed in the petition may be warranted. In 
evaluating whether substantial information is contained in a petition, 
the Secretary must consider whether the petition: (1) Clearly indicates 
the administrative measure recommended and gives the scientific and any 
common name of the species involved; (2) contains detailed narrative 
justification for the recommended measure, describing, based on 
available information, past and present numbers and distribution of the 
species involved and any threats faced by the species; (3) provides 
information regarding the status of the species over all or a 
significant portion of its range; and (4) is accompanied by the 
appropriate supporting documentation in the form of bibliographic 
references, reprints of pertinent publications, copies of reports or 
letters from authorities, and maps (50 CFR 424.14(b)(2)).
    At the 90-day finding stage, we evaluate the petitioners' request 
based upon the information in the petition including its references and 
the information readily available in our files. We do not conduct 
additional research, and we do not solicit information from parties 
outside the agency to help us in evaluating the petition. We will 
accept the petitioners' sources and characterizations of the 
information presented if they appear to be based on accepted scientific 
principles, unless we have specific information in our files that 
indicates the petition's information is incorrect, unreliable, 
obsolete, or otherwise irrelevant to the requested action. Information 
that is susceptible to more than one interpretation or that is 
contradicted by other available information will not be dismissed at 
the 90-day finding stage, so long as it is reliable and a reasonable 
person would conclude it supports the petitioners' assertions. In other 
words, conclusive information indicating the species may meet the ESA's 
requirements for listing is not required to make a positive 90-day 
finding. We will not conclude that a lack of specific information alone 
negates a positive 90-day finding if a reasonable person would conclude 
that the unknown information itself suggests an extinction risk of 
concern for the species at issue.
    To make a 90-day finding on a petition to list a species, we 
evaluate whether the petition presents substantial scientific or 
commercial information indicating the subject species may be either 
threatened or endangered, as defined by the ESA. First, we evaluate 
whether the information presented in the petition, along with the 
information readily available in our files, indicates that the 
petitioned entity constitutes a ``species'' eligible for listing under 
the ESA. Next, we evaluate whether the information indicates that the 
species faces an

[[Page 65177]]

extinction risk that is cause for concern; this may be indicated in 
information expressly discussing the species' status and trends, or in 
information describing impacts and threats to the species. We evaluate 
any information on specific demographic factors pertinent to evaluating 
extinction risk for the species (e.g., population abundance and trends, 
productivity, spatial structure, age structure, sex ratio, diversity, 
current and historical range, habitat integrity or fragmentation), and 
the potential contribution of identified demographic risks to 
extinction risk for the species. We then evaluate the potential links 
between these demographic risks and the causative impacts and threats 
identified in section 4(a)(1).
    Information presented on impacts or threats should be specific to 
the species and should reasonably suggest that one or more of these 
factors may be operative threats that act or have acted on the species 
to the point that it may warrant protection under the ESA. Broad 
statements about generalized threats to the species, or identification 
of factors that could negatively impact a species, do not constitute 
substantial information indicating that listing may be warranted. We 
look for information indicating that not only is the particular species 
exposed to a factor, but that the species may be responding in a 
negative fashion; then we assess the potential significance of that 
negative response.
    Many petitions identify risk classifications made by 
nongovernmental organizations, such as the International Union on the 
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the American Fisheries Society, or 
NatureServe, as evidence of extinction risk for a species. Risk 
classifications by other organizations or made under other Federal or 
state statutes may be informative, but such classification alone may 
not provide the rationale for a positive 90-day finding under the ESA. 
For example, as explained by NatureServe, their assessments of a 
species' conservation status do ``not constitute a recommendation by 
NatureServe for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act'' because 
NatureServe assessments ``have different criteria, evidence 
requirements, purposes and taxonomic coverage than government lists of 
endangered and threatened species, and therefore these two types of 
lists should not be expected to coincide'' (http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/pdf/NatureServeStatusAssessmentsListing-Dec%202008.pdf). 
Additionally, species classifications under IUCN and the ESA are not 
equivalent, and data standards, criteria used to evaluate species and 
treatment of uncertainty are also not necessarily the same. Thus, when 
a petition cites such classifications, we will evaluate the source of 
information that the classification is based upon in light of the 
standards on extinction risk and impacts or threats discussed above.

Distribution and Life History of Thorny Skate

    The thorny skate occurs on both sides of the Atlantic. In the 
western North Atlantic, it ranges from western Greenland to South 
Carolina, and in the eastern North Atlantic, it ranges from Iceland to 
the southwestern coasts of Ireland and England (Bigelow and Schroeder, 
1953). This species is characterized by a row of 11 to 19 large thorns 
running down the midline of the back and tail (Bigelow and Schroeder, 
1953; Collette and Klein-MacPhee, 2002). Thorny skate are generally 
brown dorsally with a white ventral surface. They may reach lengths of 
over 39 inches (991 mm), but maximum size varies over its range.
    According to Collette and Klein-MacPhee (2002), females deposit a 
single fertilized egg capsule, which ranges in size from 2 to 4 inches 
(48 to 96 mm) in length and 1.33 to 3 inches (34 to 77 mm) in width. 
While females with fully formed egg capsules are captured year round, 
the percentage of mature females with capsules is highest during the 
summer (Collette and Klein-MacPhee, 2002). Thorny skate feed on benthic 
invertebrates and fish. Thorny skates are found over a wide variety of 
substrates including sand, broken shell, gravel, pebbles, and soft mud 
and are primarily found from 20 to 3,900 feet (18 to 1200 m) deep 
(Collette and Klein-MacPhee, 2002). They appear to make seasonal 
migrations that have been noted on the Scotian Shelf and the Grand 
Banks, but specific details on the spatial patterns and timing are 
lacking (NEFSC, 2003). Kulka and Miri (2003) report a change in the 
spring and fall distributions resulting in a higher density and greater 
proportion of biomass being found in deeper waters during the spring. 
These aggregations, they note, appear to be correlated with warmer 
relative temperatures.
    Sulikowski et al. (2005) aged thorny skate in the Gulf of Maine and 
estimated the oldest age to be 16 years for both males and females. For 
females, 50 percent maturity occurred at approximately 11 years and 875 
mm (34.5 inches) total length (TL); while for males, approximately 10.9 
years and 865 mm (34 inches) TL (Sulikowski et al., 2006).

Analysis of Petition and Information Readily Available in Our Files

    We have determined, based on the information provided in the 
petition and readily available in our files, that substantial 
information is presented in the petition indicating that the petitioned 
action may be warranted. The petition contains a recommended 
administrative measure, provides the scientific and common name, 
contains a detailed narrative justification for the recommended 
measure, provides information on the status of the species, and 
includes supporting documentation. Below is a synopsis of our analysis 
of the information provided in the petition and readily available in 
our files to determine whether a reasonable person would conclude that 
an endangered or threatened listing may be warranted as a result of any 
of the factors listed under section 4(a)(1) of the ESA.

Population Trends

    The petitioners state that the IUCN lists the U.S. population of 
thorny skates as ``Critically Endangered'' and the Canadian population 
as ``Vulnerable'' throughout its range in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. 
They conclude that the IUCN categorization proves that reasonable 
people have determined that the best available scientific evidence 
shows that the species is likely to be endangered or threatened as 
those terms are defined in the ESA. They state that the IUCN 
classification of the U.S. population of thorny skates as ``Critically 
Endangered'' means that the species is as close to extinction in the 
wild as possible. However, species classifications by the IUCN and 
under the ESA are not equivalent. We will evaluate the information that 
the IUCN classification is based upon in light of the ESA's standards 
on extinction risk and impacts or threats discussed previously.
    The IUCN reviewed the status of thorny skate in 2004 and concluded 
that the extent of decline warranted an assessment of vulnerable 
globally, but critically endangered in U.S. waters. They noted that the 
species was relatively stable in recent years in Canada and the 
Northeast Atlantic yet declining in the United States. The species was 
assessed as ``Least Concern'' in the Northeast Atlantic. They also 
noted that the overall abundance (whether divided among subpopulations 
or not) still constitutes several hundred million individuals. The 
minimum biomass for the Northwest Atlantic was estimated at 100,000 
tons, which has

[[Page 65178]]

been stable or increasing slightly over the last 15 years. The reasons 
cited for the IUCN's critically endangered classification for U.S. 
waters include low relative abundance (below the fisheries limit 
reference point), the long-term population decline, lack of population 
increase despite strict management laws, and the inability to monitor 
species-specific landings.
    The petitioners cite the 2008 Skate Stock Assessment and Fishery 
Evaluation (SAFE) Report prepared by the Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center (NEFSC) as demonstrating a precipitous decline in thorny skate 
abundance and biomass in United States waters since the late 1970s. 
Skate biomass has been monitored annually by the NEFSC bottom trawl 
survey since 1963. The survey occurs from Cape Lookout to the Scotian 
Shelf. Currently, this survey is the only long-term, comprehensive 
source of information on the relative abundance of thorny skates in 
U.S. waters, which are primarily distributed in the Gulf of Maine. 
Based on this information, the survey biomass index of thorny skates 
has steadily declined from a high 3-year average of 6.17 kg/tow in 1969 
to 1971, to a low of 0.12 kg/tow in 2011 to 2013. The petition notes 
that when the Northeast skate complex Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was 
implemented by us in 2003, thorny skate was determined to be 
``overfished'' because the biomass index that year (0.74 kg/tow) was 
below the established biomass threshold (2.2 kg/tow) and below the 
biomass target (4.41 kg/tow). The petitioners correctly note that the 
current biomass threshold and biomass target are 2.06 and 4.13 kg/tow, 
respectively. The petitioners correctly state that the most recent 3-
year average mean biomass survey from 2011-2013 (0.12 kg/tow) is the 
lowest in the time series and that we have determined that overfishing 
is occurring. A stock that is subject to overfishing has a harvest rate 
higher than the rate that produces its ``maximum sustainable yield'' 
(MSY). MSY is the largest long-term average catch that can be taken 
from a stock under prevailing environmental and fishery conditions. A 
stock that is overfished has a population size that is too low and 
would jeopardize the stock's ability to produce its MSY. ``Overfished'' 
can be the result of many factors, including, but not limited to, 
overfishing.
    The petitioners further state that Canadian indices of thorny skate 
have also demonstrated a precipitous decline over the past four 
decades. They reference a report by Canada's Committee on the Status of 
Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC 2012) noting that thorny skate 
dominates Canadian catches of skate species, composing approximately 90 
percent of rajids caught in survey trawls (COSEWIC 2012). In 2012, 
COSEWIC, which was established as a legal entity under Canada's Species 
at Risk Act, published an assessment of the status of thorny skate in 
Canada and classified thorny skate as a ``species of special concern;'' 
COSEWIC assessments are considered advice to the Government of Canada 
on the status of wildlife species, but it is up to the Governor in 
Council (a subcommittee of federal cabinet ministers), on the 
recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, to decide whether 
such species should be added to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk. A 
COSEWIC assessment of ``species of special concern'' means that thorny 
skate may become ``a threatened or an endangered species because of a 
combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.'' 
COSEWIC made this designation because the species has undergone severe 
population declines over the southern part of its distribution in 
Canada (specifically, the Scotian Shelf/Bay of Fundy and Georges Bank 
areas), its range has contracted, and declines have continued in spite 
of a reduction in fishing mortality. However, the report also notes 
that the abundance of mature individuals in the northern part of its 
range has been increasing and is approaching 1970s abundance levels. 
The report indicates that on the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy, the 
abundance of immature skates has declined over 76 percent from 1970 to 
2010 and that the rate of decline for mature skates was 95 percent over 
the same period. The authors note that there is no evidence that these 
declines are due to individuals moving north. The report also indicates 
that the abundance of juvenile thorny skates on Georges Bank declined 
by 40 percent from 1987-2008, and the abundance of adults declined by 
85 percent over the same period. In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, 
abundance of thorny skate of all sizes has fluctuated between 1971 and 
2010 and was lower at the end of the time series. The report notes that 
adults declined by 95 percent from 1971-2010 and that this matches 
increases in natural mortality over this period (citing Benoit and Swan 
2011). The rate of decline for juveniles over this period was 32 
percent, although there was an increase from 2003-2010. They note the 
uncertainty with how an apparently large number of juveniles could be 
produced by so few adults. Abundance trends could not be calculated for 
the Baffin Bay/Davis Strait/Ungava Bay region. Based on limited data, 
the report concludes that thorny skate abundance in the Grand Banks to 
Labrador Shelf area has fluctuated without trend between 1978 and 2010. 
On the southern Labrador Shelf, thorny skate declined until 1995 and 
then stabilized or increased thereafter. For example, adults declined 
by 91 percent from 1997 to 1994 but subsequently increased by 821 
percent from 1995 to 2008. Similar patterns of decline and then 
increased abundance are reported for the Grand Banks.
    The petitioners state that since the mid-1980s, the range of the 
thorny skate on the Grand Banks has been contracting (Kulka and Miri 
2003). They cite evidence of a hyper-aggregation with 80 percent of the 
biomass now concentrated in 20 percent of the area along the southwest 
slope of the Grand Banks (Kulka et al. 2007). As noted by Kulka et al. 
(2006), in the early 1980s, thorny skates were distributed over the 
entire Grand Banks in moderate to high concentrations, but by the late 
1990s, much of the biomass was concentrated in the southwest. The 
proportion of the surveyed area containing no skates increased from 
about 2 percent in 1980 to 1988 to 22 percent in 2004 to 2005. During 
1980 to 1988, about 57 percent of the biomass was located within 20 
percent of the survey area, by 2001 to 2005, 78 percent of the biomass 
was concentrated into 20 percent of the survey area. Therefore, the 
area occupied by thorny skates has decreased, and the population has 
become increasingly more concentrated in a smaller area where bottom 
temperatures are warmest. A very similar pattern of aggregation was 
observed for northern cod just prior to its collapse (Rose and Kulka 
1999). Kulka and Miri (2003) state that aggregation and reduced area of 
occupancy led to the cod being increasingly more vulnerable to 
exploitation and they state this is very similar to what is happening 
to thorny skate. They do acknowledge that it is unknown whether these 
spatial dynamics are an indication of a skate stock under stress. The 
2007 update by Kulka and Miri noted that the species had shown a minor 
re-expansion in its distribution in the past 3 to 4 years.
    Kulka and Miri (2006) noted that the average weight of thorny skate 
had declined from 2 kg in the early 1970s to 1.2 kg in 1996 with the 
majority of this decline occurring in the 1990s concurrent with the 
decline in biomass. They reported that average size had increased to 
about 1.6 kg since that time. They note that the decline of thorny 
skate, particularly on the

[[Page 65179]]

northern Grand Banks, is concurrent in space and time with the decline 
of many other demersal species and occurred during a period when bottom 
temperatures were below average.
    In conclusion, in the southern part of its range in Canada, and in 
the United States, we find evidence suggesting that population 
abundance of thorny skate has continued to decline, and in the northern 
part of its range thorny skate may be stable at a diminished abundance. 
While data are still limited with respect to population size and 
trends, we find the petition and our files contain sufficient 
information on thorny skate trends and status to indicate that the 
petitioned action may be warranted.

Analysis of DPS Information

    The petition requests that we list the thorny skate population in 
the Northwest Atlantic as a threatened or endangered DPS and presents 
arguments that thorny skate in the Northwest Atlantic meet the criteria 
to be considered a DPS, as described in the 1996 joint NMFS and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service DPS policy (61 FR 4722; February 7, 
1996). Alternatively, the petition requests that we list the thorny 
skate population in the United States as a threatened or endangered DPS 
and presents arguments that thorny skate in U.S. waters meet 
requirements for being identified as a DPS eligible for listing. Our 
DPS policy identifies two elements that must be considered when 
identifying a DPS: (1) The discreteness of the population segment in 
relation to the remainder of the species (or subspecies) to which it 
belongs; and (2) the significance of the population segment to the 
species to which it belongs. A population segment of a vertebrate 
species may be considered discrete if it satisfies either one of the 
following conditions: (1) It is markedly separated from other 
populations of the same taxon as a consequence of physical, 
physiological, ecological, or behavioral factors--quantitative measures 
of genetic or morphological discontinuity may provide evidence of this 
separation; or (2) it is delimited by international governmental 
boundaries within which differences in control of exploitation, 
management of habitat conservation status, or regulatory mechanisms 
exist that are significant in light of section 4(a)(1)(D) of the ESA. 
If a population segment is considered discrete under one or more of the 
above conditions, its biological and ecological significance will then 
be considered in light of Congressional guidance (see Senate Report 
151, 96th Congress, 1st Session) that the authority to list DPSs be 
used ``sparingly'' while encouraging the conservation of genetic 
diversity. In carrying out this examination, the Services will consider 
available scientific evidence of the discrete population segment's 
importance to the taxon to which it belongs. This consideration may 
include, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Persistence of the 
discrete population segment in an ecological setting unusual or unique 
for the taxon; (2) evidence that loss of the discrete population 
segment would result in a significant gap in the range of a taxon; (3) 
evidence that the discrete population segment represents the only 
surviving natural occurrence of a taxon that may be more abundant 
elsewhere as an introduced population outside its historic range; or 
(4) evidence that the discrete population segment differs markedly from 
other populations of the species in its genetic characteristics.
    The petitioners state the Northwest Atlantic thorny skate 
population, encompassing Canadian and U.S. waters, satisfies both the 
``discrete'' and ``significant'' requirements for DPS identification. 
They state that the Northwest Atlantic population is discrete because 
it is markedly separated from other populations due to physical and 
biological factors.
    The petitioners describe the results of tagging studies (Templeman 
1984, Templeman 1987, Walker et al. 1997) and suggest that thorny skate 
are a relatively sedentary species in both the Northwest and Northeast 
Atlantic. They use the maximum distance traveled from a tagging 
location (386 km; Templeman 1984), the small portion of the tagged 
individuals that traveled more than 161 km (13 percent; Templeman 1984) 
in the Northwest Atlantic, the small portion of tagged individuals that 
traveled more than 93 km in the North Sea (15 percent; Walker et al. 
1997), and the conclusions of Templeman (1987) that ``large scale 
migrations did not occur'' between the Grand Banks and Labrador Shelf 
to conclude that long distances may hinder thorny skates from embarking 
on long enough migrations to travel between the Northeast and Northwest 
Atlantic. The petitioners claim that there is no indication that a 
significant portion of the populations travel between the Northeast and 
Northwest Atlantic. These studies rely solely on conventional tagging 
data and only report the distance between the tagging location and the 
location of recapture. It is unknown if the maximum distances reported 
between tagging and recapture location are in fact reflective of the 
maximum normal or maximum possible migration distance. However, as 
noted in the 2015 petition, if this is interpreted to mean that the 
maximum migration is 386 km, this is not far enough to allow for trans-
Atlantic migration, and this could support the petitioner's claim that 
separate, isolated Northwest and Northeast Atlantic populations of 
thorny skate exist.
    The petitioners present some information on available genetic 
studies of thorny skate. They state that the findings of Coulson et al. 
(2011) suggest that genetic diversity may exist in thorny skate and 
that this is indicative of population structure. The petitioners also 
address the findings of Chevolet et al. (2007) and question the 
validity of Chevolet et al.'s conclusions. The results of Coulson et 
al. (2011) indicate that thorny skate showed the highest level of 
within-species divergence (0.8 percent) across all skate species from 
Atlantic Canada examined, but this was largely due to a single 
individual, collected off the Gulf of Maine, with 3-4 percent sequence 
divergence from the other thorny skates examined. Coulson et al. (2011) 
also note that, with the exception of one other species (for which only 
two samples were tested), thorny skate showed the highest levels of 
both haplotype and nucleotide diversity; this was true even when the 
Gulf of Maine sample was excluded.
    The petitioners interpret Chevolet et al. (2007) to note that the 
near absence of genetic differentiation in thorny skate over the North 
Atlantic does not conform to predictions based on life history 
characteristics, and they acknowledge that the lack of power related to 
small sample size and the use of only one molecular marker might 
explain this. However, the authors note that a parallel study using the 
same marker for another skate species did find strong and highly 
significant structure at the ocean basin scale. The petitioners claim 
that this is not credible because the other study (Chevolet 2006) deals 
with a different skate species with different phylogeographic and 
population genetic structure patterns and because it does not minimize 
the problems associated with a small sample size. The only other 
information in our files is a study (Ostrow et al. 2008) that concluded 
there was no significant population structuring between phenotypically 
different thorny skate within the Gulf of Maine or between thorny skate 
samples from the Gulf of Maine and Canada. This suggests that mixing 
may occur between thorny skate in the Gulf of Maine and Canada. The 
authors also concluded that the number of migrants between the Gulf of 
Maine and Canada indicated large amounts of gene flow suggesting that 
genetic isolation had not occurred

[[Page 65180]]

between any of the groups. The petitioners also note a statement in 
COSEWIC (2012) that states that large morphological and reproductive 
differences among thorny skates in different areas in conjunction with 
indications of minimal migration suggest that there could be spatial 
variation in population structure.
    The available genetic studies present conflicting information on 
the potential for significant differences between populations of thorny 
skate. We conclude that, viewed together, the genetics and tagging 
information presented in the petition combined with the information in 
our files present sufficient evidence that the DPS policy's criterion 
for discreteness may be met for the Northwest Atlantic population of 
thorny skate.
    The petitioner argues that thorny skate in the Northwest Atlantic 
are significant because the loss of this population would result in a 
significant reduction in the species' range with no significant 
evidence that populations outside of this range could recolonize these 
waters. While not clearly stated, we presume the petitioners based this 
on the tagging information presented in their arguments for 
discreteness. The petitioners also claim that the separate assessments 
and classifications of the Northwest and Northeast Atlantic stocks of 
thorny skate by the IUCN are evidence that the populations are discrete 
and significant. The petitioners do not present any analysis to support 
the claim that the IUCN stock determination is equivalent to a 
determination that a population meets the significance criterion in the 
DPS policy. However, based on the tagging information, we conclude that 
the petition presents sufficient evidence that the DPS policy's 
criterion for significance, particularly the ``significant gap'' 
consideration, may be met for the Northwest Atlantic population of 
thorny skate. Because the Northwest population of thorny skate may 
qualify as a DPS, we will consider it a potentially listable entity for 
purposes of this 90-day finding, and whether the Northwest Atlantic 
population of thorny skate constitutes a DPS will receive further 
analysis in the status review.
    The petition claims the thorny skate population in U.S. waters also 
satisfies the discreteness and significance criteria for DPS 
designation. The petition claims that the U.S. population is discrete, 
because it is delimited by international governmental boundaries 
(delineating the United States and Canada) and significant differences 
exist in the control of exploitation, conservation status, and 
regulatory mechanisms. The petition presents information on differences 
in management regimes between the United States and Canada, notably 
that possession and landing of thorny skate is prohibited in the United 
States and a directed fishery occurs for thorny skate in Canada and 
suggests that regulatory mechanisms in Canada are inadequate. The 
petition also describes management by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 
Organization (NAFO), which sets catch limits for thorny skate in the 
Northwest Atlantic. The petitioners claim that evidence suggests that 
the U.S. DPS may be discrete because it is markedly separated from the 
Canadian population as a consequence of physical and/or ecological 
factors. To support this, the petitioners point to the hyper-aggregated 
population along the southwest slope of the Grand Banks in Canadian 
waters (Kulka et al. 2007) and the relatively concentrated populations 
of thorny skates in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank offshore strata 
in U.S. waters (NEFMC 2009). The petitioner argues that the thorny 
skate population in the United States is also significant because the 
loss of this population would result in a significant gap in the 
species' range. We find that the petition presents substantial evidence 
that the DPS policy's criteria for discreteness and significance may be 
met for the U.S. population of thorny skate. Because the U.S. 
population of thorny skate may qualify as a DPS, we will consider it a 
potentially listable entity for purposes of this 90-day finding, and 
whether the U.S. population of thorny skate constitutes a DPS will 
receive further analysis in the status review.

Analysis of ESA Section 4(a)(1) Factors

    The petition provides information on all five factors but asserts 
that the continued survival of the thorny skate is endangered by three 
of the five factors specified in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA: (B) 
Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes; (D) inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; 
and (E) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued 
existence.

Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific, or 
Educational Purposes

    Skates are harvested in two different fisheries, one for lobster 
bait and one for wings for food. The fishery for lobster bait is a more 
historical and directed skate fishery, involving vessels primarily from 
Southern New England ports that target a combination of little skates 
and to a much lesser extent, juvenile winter skates. The fishery for 
skate wings evolved in the 1990s as skates were promoted as an 
underutilized species. The wing fishery involves a larger number of 
vessels located throughout the region. Vessels tend to catch skates 
when targeting other species like groundfish, monkfish, and scallops 
and land them if the price is high enough (NEFMC 2009).
    Thorny skates in the Atlantic U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone have 
been managed under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by the New 
England Fishery Management Council's fishery management plan for the 
Northeast (NE) Skate Complex (Skate FMP) since September 2003. Since 
that time, possession and landing of thorny skates has been prohibited, 
but the survey biomass index has continued to decline. It is important 
to note that based on the limited productivity of this species (long-
lived, late maturity, low fecundity, etc.), rebuilding to target levels 
(4.12 kg/tow) was estimated to take at least 25 years (i.e., 2028) 
(NEFMC 2009). The thorny skate's low productivity makes it vulnerable 
to exploitation, but also suggests that the population is inherently 
slow to respond to fishery management efforts.
    The petition states that population estimates for the thorny skate 
in Canadian waters indicate stable, but not increasing numbers, and in 
the waters of the United States, biomass indices have been declining 
for decades, despite the federal ban on the landing and possession of 
thorny skates since 2003. The petition claims that thorny skate 
populations have been historically exploited at unsustainable rates. 
They state that participation in the commercial skate wing fishery in 
the Northwest Atlantic has grown dramatically over the past 30 years. 
They cite the initiation of a directed skate fishery in Canada in 1994 
and an increase in skate landings in U.S. waters between the early 
1980s and 2007. The petitioners note that biomass indices in Canada 
indicate that the species is maintaining relatively stable population 
numbers at very low levels. They claim the thorny skate population in 
U.S. waters continues to decline and state that the lack of regulation 
prior to 2003 reduced the population. The petitioners claim that 
current, and historical, overfishing has deleterious effects on the 
species population in U.S. waters and is a significant factor in the 
species' continued decline.
    The petitioners claim that reports of illegal thorny skate landings 
suggest that thorny skates are being exploited in the commercial wing 
market. They state

[[Page 65181]]

that in the United States prior to August 2014, skate landings were not 
required to be reported by species. They cite NEFMC (2009), reporting 
that thorny skate wings composed 6.7 percent and 3 percent of the 
sampled dockside landings of skate wings in Massachusetts and Maine, 
respectively, from 2006-2007. However, according to port sampler data 
provided by the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office's 
Analysis and Program Support Division, the occurrence of thorny skates 
in skate wing landings has been significantly reduced since 2006. Out 
of 50,653 skate wings sampled between 2007 and 2010, only 353 (0.7 
percent) were identified as thorny skate wings. The available 
information does not suggest that illegal landings are impacting thorny 
skate populations to a degree that raises concern that the species may 
be at risk of extinction.
    The petitioners acknowledge that in contrast to Canada's directed 
thorny skate fishery, in the United States, thorny skates are primarily 
taken as bycatch in groundfish trawl fisheries. They also acknowledge 
that the prohibition on retention of the species means fishermen are 
banned from possessing or landing thorny skates or their parts, and 
Federal regulations mandate the discard of any incidentally caught 
thorny skates. The petition cites the 2009 and 2010 Standardized 
Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM; Wigley et al. 2011) reports, which 
indicate that roughly 70 percent of all skates caught in various 
fisheries were discarded. We reviewed the SBRM reports for later years 
(Wigley et al. 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012); these reports indicate that 
49-63 percent of skates caught between July 2010 and June 2014 were 
discarded. The petitioners claim the possibility of egregious mis- and 
under-reporting of skate discards. However, other than noting that only 
10 percent of selected otter trawl vessel total trips were observed 
under the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program, the petitioners provide 
no substantial information to support this claim of mis-reporting or 
under-reporting of skate discards. The available information does not 
suggest that mis-reporting or under-reporting is impacting thorny skate 
populations to a degree that raises concern that the species may be at 
risk of extinction.
    The petitioners cite an estimate of 3,594 tons of thorny skate 
discarded from otter trawl fisheries in U.S. waters from 2003-2010. The 
petitioners claim that post-discard mortality for thorny skate is high 
and exacerbates the thorny skate's population decline and critically 
threatens stock rebuilding efforts. The petitioners cite Mandleman et 
al. (2013) as support for their claim of high post-discard mortality. 
This study indicates that while 72-hour post-discard mortality of a 
sample of individuals retained in captivity following cage trials was 
only 22 percent, the condition of many of the individual thorny skate 
was poor (52 percent injury rate at time of capture; most with listless 
appearance and lack of vigor at the end of the 72-hour period) and 7 
day mortality was 66 percent. The authors note that the species may be 
less resilient than indicated by the 22 percent 72-hour mortality rate 
and cautions against the use of the 22 percent mortality rate in 
management. The effects of captivity on these mortality rates are 
unknown. Further review is necessary to determine if this level of 
fishery-related mortality is a threat to thorny skate, but we cannot 
discount it as a possible threat to the species.
    Given the evidence of historical exploitation of the species and 
subsequent population declines, the continued bycatch of thorny skate, 
and the potentially high post-discard mortality rate, the information 
in the petition and in our files leads a reasonable person to conclude 
that the petitioned action may be warranted.

Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms

    The petitioners claim that a general lack of species-specific 
identification, both on-boat and at landing, poses a significant threat 
to the thorny skate's survival in U.S. waters and that because thorny 
skate are a prohibited species, the likelihood that the landings are 
underreported is strong. They also state that misidentification and 
mislabeling is a problem. The petitioner states that positive species 
identification at landing is hindered because current regulations allow 
vessels to possess and/or land skates as wings only (wings removed from 
the body of the skate and the remaining carcasses discarded). The 
petitioners also state that the designation of thorny skates as 
``prohibited'', ``overfished'' and ``subject to overfishing'' allows 
room for inconsistent enforcement of the law. The petition states that 
the existing regulatory mechanisms provided for in the 2003 FMP are 
ineffective.
    As noted in the petition, in 2013, we determined that overfishing 
is occurring for thorny skate. The determination that overfishing is 
occurring is made when there is a decrease of more than 20 percent 
between two consecutive moving averages of the biomass index. The 2011-
2013 3-year average biomass index (0.12 kg/tow) is only 3 percent of 
the species' biomass target. This 3-year average index represents an 
approximately 33 percent decrease from the 2010-2012 3-year moving 
average (0.18 kg/tow). While not noted in the petition, in an August 
2014 memorandum (August 22, 2014 memo from NEFSC to GARFO) we 
determined that based on new survey data collected through autumn 2013/
spring 2014, thorny skate remained overfished and overfishing was still 
occurring. Because thorny skate are a long lived species, the species 
may be slow to respond to management measures. However, the 
determination that overfishing is occurring suggests that, despite the 
ban on possession or landing, fishing mortality is a threat that may 
warrant further consideration.
    As noted in the petition, the framework for the FMP for the 
Northeast skate complex was adjusted in 2014 to implement a 30 percent 
reduction in the skate Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC). However, as 
noted in the petition, the Federal Register notice announcing the 
availability of Framework Adjustment 2 acknowledges that while these 
reductions in catch limits are expected to address the current 
overfishing status for winter skates (not its overfished condition), 
the New England Fishery Management Council intends to develop a new 
skate action in 2014 to address overfishing and rebuild overfished 
thorny skates. The petition correctly notes that the Framework 
Adjustment 2 was not designed to address overfishing of thorny skates 
and correctly notes that as of the date of the petition, no new 
management action for thorny skate has been proposed.
    While the determinations that thorny skate is overfished and that 
overfishing is occurring do not alone indicate that the species may be 
at risk of extinction, thorny skate biomass in the United States 
continues to decline and appears to be at historically low levels, and 
information was presented suggesting that fishing may be a contributing 
factor to this decline. Based on the information presented in the 
petition as well as information in our files, we find that further 
evaluation of the adequacy of existing regulatory measures in the 
United States is needed.
    While the historical lack of species-specific trends in landings 
and discards has hampered stock assessment efforts, recent data 
collection efforts have greatly improved our understanding of the 
species composition of the landings. As noted in the petition, in 
August 2014, the reporting standard was changed. Framework Adjustment 2 
to

[[Page 65182]]

the Northeast Skate FMP requires all landings be reported by one of the 
seven specific skate species or by ``little/winter skate'' if an 
unknown mix of the two species exists. Thorny skate wings are easily 
distinguishable from legal winter skate wings with a minimal amount of 
training, and port samplers and enforcement agents have received this 
training. Landing of thorny skates may have been more frequent in the 
past, but it has been dramatically curtailed since the prohibition on 
possession went into effect. Mislabeling of skate products does not 
appear to be widespread at U.S. ports, but port agents and enforcement 
agents have been trained to correct mislabeling if they observe it. The 
only information on mislabeling presented in the petition was about one 
specimen from a seafood show in Brussels, Belgium, which we view as not 
relevant to a potential listing in the United States. We conclude that 
the petition does not present sufficient information to determine that 
issues with landings data, misidentification or mislabeling are 
impacting thorny skate populations to a degree that raises concern that 
the petitioned action may be warranted.
    The petition also states that regulatory mechanisms in Canada are 
inadequate to protect thorny skate. They claim that by adopting NAFO's 
suggested total allowable catch (TAC) limits for skate, Canada has 
implemented regulations that have not successfully promoted stock 
rebuilding. Finally, the petition also states that Canada lacks 
substantive protective regulatory mechanisms for thorny skate and has 
not afforded a conservation status by COSEWIC. As reported in the 
petition, thorny skate abundance indices have stabilized in Canadian 
waters in recent years while biomass indices have gradually increased 
(DFO 2013), but both indices are at historically low levels. The 
petitioners argue that while the average reported annual catch from 
NAFO Division 3LNO from 2009-2011 is less than half the current TAC, 
there has been minimal to no rebuilding of the stock during this 
period. The petitioners claim there are no indications the stock is 
recovering since it was brought under management and argue that both 
the current TAC (reported by the petitioners as 7,000 tons, citing NAFO 
2012) and the reported average skate catches are too high to promote 
any stock recovery. The most recent stock assessment of thorny skate in 
NAFO Subdivision 3PS (inside Canada's 200-mile limit) indicates the TAC 
has been continually reduced since 2004 (13,500 tons) and is currently 
at 8,500 t (DFO 2013). The Canadian research survey abundance for 
Subdivision 3Ps was relatively stable from 1993-2012, while the survey 
biomass index indicated a gradually increasing trend (DFO 2013). In 
NAFO divisions 3LNO, Canadian research survey indices declined rapidly 
until the early 1990s; abundance indices were relatively stable in 
1993-2012, while the survey biomass indices have generally been 
increasing (DFO 2013). DFO 2013 acknowledges that since the 1980s, 
thorny skate has undergone substantial changes in its distribution and 
has become increasingly aggregated in subdivision 3Ps, and on the 
southern part of the Grand Banks. They state that this results in a 
decreasing area of occupancy and increasing catch rates in commercial 
fisheries occurring in those aggregation areas. The report also 
indicates that discarding of skate bycatch at sea remains unreported by 
Canadian and other fishers, which results in higher removals of thorny 
skate than available fisheries statistics indicate and that commercial 
skate landings from Canada's EEZ are not required to be reported by 
species. The report concludes that despite a number of years of reduced 
commercial landings, there was no recovery of thorny skate in the 
3LNOPs stock area despite apparently stable abundance in the 3Ps 
portion and that biomass and abundance indices for the entire division 
3LNO and subdivision 3Ps thorny skate stock area remain at relatively 
low levels. Based on the information presented in the petition as well 
as information in our files, we find that further evaluation of the 
adequacy of existing regulatory measures outside of the United States 
is needed. Given the information presented above, the information in 
the petition and in our files leads a reasonable person to conclude 
that the petitioned action may be warranted.

Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting Its Existence

    The petition claims that global warming poses a long-term threat to 
Northwest Atlantic thorny skates and their recovery from depletion. 
They state that the documented global ocean warming trend could result 
in a change in species composition in northern waters which could 
adversely affect the thorny skate's predator-prey dynamics or introduce 
new pathogens that could harm thorny skates. The petitioners provide 
information on sea surface temperatures and hydrography in the Gulf of 
Maine and state that one outcome will be reductions in phytoplankton 
productivity. While they state that changes at the lower levels of the 
food web may have consequences to animals at higher trophic levels, 
they provide no information on the impacts of these changes on thorny 
skate. The petitioners have not provided substantial information 
indicating that potential impacts to lower levels of the food web are 
causing detrimental effects to thorny skate or may be contributing or 
may, in the foreseeable future, contribute significantly to population 
declines of thorny skate to the point where the petitioned action may 
be warranted.
    They also state that global warming could result in a contraction 
of the range of cold-water species such as the thorny skate. They 
speculate that a range contraction could be a potential factor in the 
decrease in thorny skate biomass in the Gulf of Maine and that the 
amount of thermal habitat in the 5 to 15 [deg]C range has decreased 
over the past two decades. The petitioners state that the majority of 
thorny skates are not capable of journeys of more than 96 km and the 
farthest an individual has been documented traveling is 386 km (citing 
Templeman 1984) and that, as such, a large-scale northern migration to 
move away from warming waters in the southern portion of their range 
appears unlikely. As noted above, it is unclear what the actual maximum 
migratory distance for a thorny skate is. The petitioners also claim 
that thorny skate have experienced a northward shift in the center of 
their biomass. More research is necessary to investigate if there is a 
correlation between Gulf of Maine water temperatures and thorny skate 
biomass, but the available information on thorny skate temperature 
preferences suggests that this could be a possibility.
    There is uncertainty regarding the role of temperature in driving 
or contributing to the historical and current distribution and 
abundance of thorny skate and even greater uncertainty regarding 
potential future impacts of climate change. Impacts from climate change 
to habitat availability or suitability could pose particular problems 
for U.S. populations of thorny skate as they are at the southern extent 
of the range of the species and are at historically low levels of 
abundance. Further review is necessary to determine if climate change 
is a threat to thorny skate. Given the evidence of range contraction 
and the uncertainty regarding the role of warming ocean waters, we 
conclude that the information in the petition and in our files suggests 
that climate change, and warming ocean waters specifically, may be 
impacting thorny skate to a degree that raises concern over their 
continued

[[Page 65183]]

persistence and that should be further evaluated in a status review.
    The petitioners claim that hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) has 
increased in frequency, duration, and severity in coastal waters and 
that this decreases the abundance and diversity of benthic macrofauna 
(citing CSIS 2011). They also claim that the combination of hypoxia and 
increased water temperature would reduce the quality and size of 
suitable habitat for aerobic organisms whose suitable habitat is 
restricted by water temperature and claim that thorny skate is such a 
species. While acknowledging that any prediction of the effects of 
hypoxic zones on thorny skates is speculative, the petitioners state 
that any adverse impact on the species or on the abundance/distribution 
of its predators or prey will severely hinder the species' ability to 
recover. However, neither the petitioners nor the information in our 
files indicate that thorny skate are impacted by hypoxia or that 
hypoxia may be contributing significantly to population declines in 
thorny skates to the point where the species may be at a risk of 
extinction. As such, we conclude that the information presented in the 
petition on the threat of hypoxia does not provide substantial 
information indicating that hypoxia may be impacting thorny skate to a 
degree that the petitioned action may be warranted.
    The petitioners state that the life history characteristics of 
thorny skate place the species at risk of adverse effects resulting 
from natural stochastic events. However, neither the petitioners nor 
the information in our files indicate that natural stochastic events 
are causing detrimental effects to the species or may be contributing 
significantly to population declines in thorny skates to the point 
where the species may be at a risk of extinction. As such, we conclude 
that the information presented in the petition on the threat of natural 
stochastic events does not provide substantial information indicating 
that such events may be impacting or may, in the foreseeable future, 
impact thorny skate to a degree that the petitioned action may be 
warranted. However, given all of the information presented above on 
other natural and manmade factors, particularly the warming of oceans, 
the information in the petition and in our files does lead a reasonable 
person to conclude that the petitioned action may be warranted, and it 
is necessary to consider the impacts from other natural and manmade 
factors in a status review.

Summary of ESA Section 4(a)(1) Factors

    We conclude that the petition presents substantial scientific or 
commercial information indicating that a combination of three of the 
section 4(a)(1) factors (overutilization for commercial, recreational, 
scientific, or educational purposes; inadequate existing regulatory 
mechanisms; and other natural or manmade factors) may be causing or 
contributing to an increased risk of extinction for thorny skate which 
needs to be further evaluated in a review of the status of the species.

Petition Finding

    After reviewing the information contained in the petition, as well 
as information readily available in our files, and based on the above 
analysis, we conclude the petition presents substantial scientific 
information indicating the petitioned action of listing a Northwest 
Atlantic or United States DPS of thorny skate as threatened or 
endangered may be warranted. Therefore, in accordance with section 
4(b)(3)(B) of the ESA and NMFS' implementing regulations (50 CFR 
424.14(b)(2)), we will commence a review of the status of the species. 
During our status review, we will first determine whether one of the 
populations identified by the petitioners meets the DPS policy 
criteria, and if so, whether it is threatened or endangered throughout 
all or a significant portion of its range. We now initiate this review, 
and thus, the Northwest Atlantic population of the thorny skate is 
considered to be a candidate species (see 69 FR 19975; April 15, 2004). 
To the maximum extent practicable, within 12 months of the receipt of 
the petition (May 28, 2016), we will make a finding as to whether 
listing either of the populations identified by the petitioner as DPSs 
as endangered or threatened is warranted as required by section 
4(b)(3)(B) of the ESA. If listing a DPS is found to be warranted, we 
will publish a proposed rule and solicit public comments before 
developing and publishing a final rule. The petitioners request that we 
designate critical habitat for thorny skates. ESA Section 4(a)(3)(A) 
and its implementing regulations state that, to the maximum extent 
prudent and determinable, the Secretary shall, concurrently with 
listing a species as endangered or threatened, designate any critical 
habitat for that species. If a thorny skate population were to be 
listed as a DPS, we would follow the relevant statutory and regulatory 
provisions regarding the designation of critical habitat.

Information Solicited

    To ensure that the status review is based on the best available 
scientific and commercial data, we are soliciting information on the 
thorny skate. Specifically, we solicit information in the following 
areas: (1) Historical and current distribution and abundance of this 
species in the Northwest Atlantic; (2) historical and current 
population status and trends; (3) any current or planned activities 
that may adversely impact the species, especially as related to the 
five factors specified in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA and listed above; 
(4) ongoing efforts to protect and restore the species and its habitat; 
and (5) genetic data or other information related to possible 
population structure of thorny skate. We request that all information 
be accompanied by: (1) Supporting documentation such as maps, 
bibliographic references, or reprints of pertinent publications; and 
(2) the submitter's name, address, and any association, institution, or 
business that the person represents.

References Cited

    A complete list of references is available upon request (see 
ADDRESSES).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: October 16, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch, III.
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-27147 Filed 10-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P