[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54556-54558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19459]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE698


Endangered and Threatened Species; Draft Recovery Plan for Puget 
Sound/Georgia Basin Yelloweye Rockfish and Bocaccio

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 
availability of the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin Yelloweye rockfish 
(Sebastes ruberrimus) and Bocaccio (S. paucispinis) Draft Recovery Plan 
(Plan) for public review. NMFS is soliciting review and comment from 
the public and all interested parties on the draft Plan, and will 
consider all substantive comments received during the review period 
before submitting the Plan for final approval.

DATES: Comments and information on the draft Plan must be received by 
close of business on November 14, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2016-0083 by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0083. Click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Chris Yates, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, NMFS, West Coast 
Regional Office, Attn: Dan Tonnes 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 
98115.
    Instructions: You must submit comments by one of the above methods 
to ensure that we receive, document, and consider them. 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. All 
comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be 
posted for public viewing on http://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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Tonnes (206-526-4643), email 
[email protected]; or Jennifer Sawchuk (360-561-4025), email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On April 28, 2010, we listed the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin Distinct 
Population Segments (DPSs) of yelloweye rockfish and canary rockfish as 
threatened under the ESA, and the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin DPS of 
bocaccio as endangered (75 FR 22276). The DPS determinations for Puget 
Sound/Georgia Basin yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, and boccacio 
were informed by the best available scientific and commercial data and 
the status review conducted by a Biological Review Team (BRT) (Drake et 
al., 2010). The final critical habitat rule for the listed DPSs of 
rockfish was published in the Federal Register on November 1, 2014 (79 
FR 68041).
    In 2013, we appointed a recovery team and initiated recovery 
planning for the listed rockfish species. Through the process of 
recovery planning, priority research and recovery actions emerged. One 
such action was to seek specific genetic data for each of the listed 
rockfish species to better evaluate and determine whether differences 
exist in the genetic structure of the listed species' populations 
between inland basins where the DPSs occur and the outer coast. In 2014 
and 2015, we partnered with the Washington Department of Fish and 
Wildlife, several local fishing guides, and anglers including anglers 
from the Puget Sound Anglers and the Kitsap Pogie Club to collect 
samples and compare the genetic structure of the species' populations 
between the different basins of the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin DPSs area 
and the outer coast.
    In 2015 we announced a 5-year review (80 FR 6695; February 6, 2015) 
for the three rockfish DPSs and genetics information from the above 
cooperative study was included in the review. The 5-year review was 
completed May 5, 2016 (NMFS 2016) and is available at http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/protected_species/other/rockfish/5.5.2016_5yr_review_report_rockfish.pdf. To complete the 
review, we collected, evaluated, and incorporated all information on 
the species that has become available since April 2010, the date of the 
listing, including the 2014 final critical habitat designation and the 
newly obtained genetic information.
    The BRT found that current genetic data evaluated and interpreted 
in the context of all available scientific information now provides 
strong evidence that canary rockfish of the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin 
are not discrete from coastal area canary rockfish. Based on the BRT 
findings, and best available science and commercial information, and in 
accordance with the DPS policy (61 FR 4722; February 7, 1996), we 
determined that the canary rockfish of the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin do 
not meet the criteria to be considered a DPS and recommended delisting 
canary rockfish in the 5-year review (NMFS 2016). The new genetics 
information confirmed the existence of an inland population of Puget 
Sound/Georgia Basin yelloweye rockfish that is discrete from coastal 
yelloweye rockfish, and there was not information to change our prior 
status review determination that Puget Sound/Georgia Basin bocaccio are 
discrete from coastal fish (Ford, 2015). Based on the new information 
and recommendation in the 5-year review, we published a proposed rule 
to remove Puget Sound/Georgia Basin canary rockfish from the Federal 
List of Threatened and Endangered Species (81 FR 43979; July 6, 2016). 
The Puget Sound/Georgia Basin yelloweye rockfish DPS shall remain 
threatened under the ESA, and the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin bocaccio 
DPS shall remain endangered. Therefore, this draft recovery plan is for 
yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio and does not include canary rockfish.

Draft Recovery Plan

    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 listed 
species unless such a plan would not promote its recovery.
    The Draft Recovery Plan for Yelloweye Rockfish and Bocaccio of the 
Puget Sound/Georgia Basin was developed by NMFS in cooperation

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with a recovery team made up of experts from the University of 
Washington, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the 
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, and the Northwest Indian Fisheries 
Commission. Additionally, a number of scientists have provided peer 
review and individuals from the Rockfish Workgroup, a group of diverse 
stakeholders, have also provided research ideas.
    The BRT appointed to assess the status of the petitioned rockfish 
in 2008 found that the total rockfish abundance in the Puget Sound/
Georgia Basin has declined by 70 percent, and that yelloweye rockfish 
and bocaccio have declined to an even greater extent (Drake et al., 
2010). NMFS's goal is to restore the threatened yelloweye rockfish DPS 
and the endangered bocaccio DPS of the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin to the 
point where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems and no longer need the protections of the ESA. The Plan 
provides background on the natural history of yelloweye rockfish and 
bocaccio, population trends, and the potential threats to their 
viability. The Plan lays out a recovery strategy to address the 
potential threats based on the best available science, identifies site-
specific actions with time lines and costs, and includes recovery goals 
and criteria. NMFS concludes that the Plan meets the requirements of 
the ESA.
    The primary factors responsible for the decline of the DPSs of 
rockfishes were overutilization for commercial and recreational 
purposes, habitat degradation, water quality problems including low 
dissolved oxygen and elevated contaminant levels, and inadequacy of 
existing regulatory mechanisms to address bycatch (75 FR 22276, April 
28, 2010). The Plan assesses these factors and other threats using the 
best available and commercial data, provides current information and 
conservation measures to assess, rank and prioritize, and provide 
guidance to address the threats. In some cases, more information is 
needed to understand the extent or if the threat is limiting recovery, 
and in those cases research to address these data gaps is outlined. 
This Plan contains both demographic and threats-based criteria for 
down- and delisting bocaccio and delisting criteria for yelloweye 
rockfish.
    The Plan is not regulatory, but presents guidance for use by 
agencies and interested parties to assist in the recovery of yelloweye 
rockfish and bocaccio. The Plan identifies substantive actions needed 
to achieve recovery by assessing the species' population abundance, 
distribution, and genetic changes over time and addressing the threats 
to the species. When determining recovery actions, the Plan prioritized 
actions that increase knowledge of the species themselves, threats 
ranked as high risk threats, and aims to improve understanding of 
whether a particular threat is limiting recovery and to eliminate or 
mitigate that threat, or to improve our understanding of, and ability 
to manage, that threat. The actions in the Plan include research, 
management, monitoring, and outreach efforts, because a comprehensive 
approach to yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio recovery is likely to have 
greater success than focusing on any one type of action. There are also 
actions targeted at incorporating new information and conducting 
regular reassessments, making this Plan an adaptive management plan.
    We expect the Plan to inform section 7 consultations with Federal 
agencies under the ESA and to support other ESA decisions, such as 
considering permits under section 10. We have already begun 
implementation of several actions as described in the plan, such 
partnering with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to 
conduct remotely operated vehicle surveys to assess listed rockfish 
abundance, distribution, and habitat use. After public comment and the 
adoption of the Final Recovery Plan, we will continue to implement 
actions in the plan for which we have authority, work cooperatively on 
implementation of other actions, and encourage other Federal and state 
agencies to implement recovery actions for which they have 
responsibility and authority. There are several Appendices in the Plan 
intended to assist with implementation of actions to address specific 
threats.
    Because of the life histories of yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio, 
once populations are at a low level, recovery can require decades 
(Parker et al., 2000; Love et al., 2002). In particular, rockfish grow 
slowly, have a long life span and low natural mortality rates, mature 
late in life, often have sporadic reproductive success from year to 
year, may display high fidelity to specific habitats and locations, and 
require a diverse genetic and age structure to maintain healthy 
populations (Love et al., 2002). Recovery of yelloweye rockfish and 
bocaccio will require a long-term effort and will require cooperation 
and coordination of Federal, state, tribal and local government 
agencies, and the community.
    The total time and cost to recovery are difficult to predict with 
the current information. The Plan outlines recovery research and 
actions, priority numbers, and estimated rockfish recovery program cost 
over a 5-year period. Projections of which actions may continue beyond 
year 5 are provided, but there is uncertainty regarding how long 
recovery will take. Currently, we do not have reliable biomass 
information for yelloweye rockfish and bocaccio. As prioritized 
information is obtained on present and past biomass, as well as 
additional information to assess the impact on how some threats may 
limit recovery and how the threats can be effectively managed or 
mitigated, more robust time and expense projections can be developed.
    The cost of the approximately 45 actions recommended in this Plan 
for the first 5 years of recovery is approximately $23,360,000. 
Assuming that recovery takes one and a half generations (of yelloweye 
rockfish) or approximately 60 years, the total recovery costs over 60 
years would be approximately $82,970,000. The annual cost of recovery 
is estimated to decrease substantially after the first 5 to 10 years, 
once the necessary baseline research and management actions are 
performed. There are numerous parallel efforts underway, independent 
from listed rockfish recovery, to protect and restore the Puget Sound 
ecosystem. Such efforts include oil-spill prevention measures, 
contaminated sediment clean-up projects, and other important projects. 
These efforts will provide benefits to listed rockfish and their 
habitats and prey base and are thus highlighted in the plan. However, 
the costs of these actions are not included in the total cost of listed 
rockfish recovery because they would occur independent of this Plan. 
Similarly, actions conducted to restore listed rockfish and their 
habitats will benefit other listed species that utilize the Puget Sound 
area, such as Puget Sound Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), 
and may provide economic benefits. We are unable to quantify the 
economic benefits of listed rockfish recovery actions, but it is likely 
the benefits to the ecosystem and economy would offset the total 
recovery costs estimated in the Plan.
    NMFS requests and will consider all substantive comments and 
information presented during the public comment period as we finalize 
this Plan. Public meetings will be held to provide information about 
the Plan and to receive public comments. The meetings will be held at 
in Olympia (The Olympia Center, Room B, 222 Columbia St. NW., Olympia, 
WA) on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 7pm; in Friday Harbor (Brick Works, 
150 Nichols St.,

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Friday Harbor, WA) on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 7pm; in Anacortes 
(City Council Chambers, Anacortes City Hall, 904 6th St., Anacortes, 
WA) on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 7pm; and in Seattle (Seattle 
Aquarium, Puget Sound Hall, 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA) on Thursday 
October 20, 2016 at 7 p.m.

References Cited

    The complete citations for the references used in this document can 
be obtained by contacting NMFS (See ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) or on our Web page at: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/rockfish/rockfish_in_puget_sound.html. http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/.

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

    Dated: August 9, 2016.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-19459 Filed 8-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P