[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48596-48597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20867]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG478


Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Abalone

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

ACTION: Application for one enhancement permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a permit 
application request for one new enhancement permit. The proposed work 
is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management, 
conservation, and recovery efforts. The application may be viewed 
online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the application 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on October 26, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be submitted to 
the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 
562-980-4027 or by email to [email protected] (include the permit 
number in the subject line of the fax or email).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Wang, Long Beach, CA (ph.: 562-
980-4199, Fax: 562-980-4027, email:

[[Page 48597]]

[email protected]). Permit application instructions are available 
from the address above, or online at https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following listed species are covered in this notice:
    Endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni).

Authority

    Enhancement permits are issued in accordance with section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and regulations 
governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226). NMFS 
issues permits based on findings that such permits: (1) Are applied for 
in good faith; (2) if granted and exercised, would not operate to the 
disadvantage of the listed species that are the subject of the permit; 
and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policy of section 2 of the 
ESA. The authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set 
forth in the permits.
    Anyone requesting a hearing on the application listed in this 
notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on the 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are 
held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NMFS.

Application Received

Permit 18116

    The NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) has requested a five-year 
enhancement permit to annually take larval, juvenile, and adult white 
abalone in California. The purpose of the proposed work is to 
experimentally outplant white abalone along the Southern California 
Coast and determine which methods, locations, habitats, sizes, and 
densities yield the greatest growth and survival of white abalone. The 
activities would benefit the listed species by increasing numbers of 
white abalone in the wild and informing future large-scale outplanting 
efforts to create self-sustaining populations in locations where white 
abalone are close to or at local extinction. The NMFS WCR proposes to 
evaluate three approaches. First, captive-bred juveniles would be 
outplanted using two different types of outplanting modules: (1) Baby 
abalone recruitment trackers (BARTs); and (2) smaller, short-term 
abalone fixed enclosures (SAFEs). Second, captive-reared larvae would 
be outplanted using a larval pump module and a net ``tent'' designed to 
retain larvae until settlement. Third, captive-bred adults or wild-
collected broodstock would be hand-placed at sites where wild white 
abalone have been observed. All outplanting would be conducted within 
the Southern California Bight and would use white abalone maintained 
and collected under Enhancement Permit 14344-2R, issued under section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA to the University of California, Davis--Bodega 
Marine Laboratory. Growth, survival, genetics, health, and habitat 
quality would be monitored at regular intervals following outplanting. 
Post-outplant monitoring would primarily consist of non-lethal, non-
capture take to observe, count, measure, and collect samples from 
abalone. Post-outplant monitoring will occur on a quarterly to annual 
basis for each outplanting method and will involve collecting shell 
length, genetic samples, fecal samples, time lapse camera images, and 
empty shells. The researchers do not intend to kill any listed white 
abalone, but some may die as an inadvertent result of the research and 
enhancement activities.
    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS 
will evaluate the applications, associated documents, and comments 
submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements 
of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit 
decisions will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment 
period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: September 20, 2018.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-20867 Filed 9-25-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P