[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4817-4818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01441]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC371]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Draft Recovery Plan for the 
Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus Longimanus)

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft recovery plan; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), announce the 
availability of a Draft Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan for 
the threatened oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) for 
public review. We are soliciting review and comment from the public and 
all interested parties on the Draft Recovery Plan, and will consider 
all substantive comments received during the review period before 
submitting the Recovery Plan for final approval.

DATES: Comments on the Draft Recovery Plan must be received by March 
27, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Draft Recovery Plan, 
identified by NOAA-NMFS-2022-0097 by the following method.
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and 
enter NOAA-NMFS-2022-0097 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' 
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
    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 NMFS. 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. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the Draft Recovery Plan and supporting 
documents are available online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/oceanic-whitetip-shark#conservation-management.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristen Koyama, (301) 427-8456, 
[email protected] or Chelsey Young, (808) 725-5154, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), requires that NMFS develop and implement recovery plans 
for the conservation and survival of threatened and endangered species 
under our jurisdiction, unless it is determined that such plans would 
not promote the conservation of the species. Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA 
requires that recovery plans incorporate, to the maximum extent 
practicable: (1) site-specific management actions necessary to achieve 
the plan's goals; (2) objective, measurable criteria which, when met, 
would result in a determination that the species is no longer 
threatened or endangered; and (3) estimates of the time required and 
costs to implement recovery actions.
    We listed the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) as a 
threatened species under the ESA on January 30, 2018 (83 FR 4153).
    The oceanic whitetip shark is a globally distributed, pelagic 
species of shark that is highly migratory, has low-moderate 
productivity, and relatively low reproductive rates. While the current 
population size is unknown, the best available information indicates 
the oceanic whitetip shark has experienced significant declines in 
abundance throughout its range over at least the last several decades 
due to overutilization in commercial fisheries resulting in high levels 
of fishing mortality. It is difficult to assess the global population 
status of the oceanic whitetip shark because stock assessments to date 
have only been conducted for the Western and Central Pacific stock. 
Therefore, it is unknown whether global population abundance has 
continued to decline, has stabilized, or has recently increased. 
Regardless of recent trends, the oceanic whitetip shark's large 
population decline is a cause for concern due to ongoing susceptibility 
to threats acting on the species.

Development of the Draft Recovery Plan

    In September 2018, we developed a recovery outline to 
systematically and cohesively guide recovery for the oceanic whitetip 
shark until we completed a recovery plan. The recovery outline is 
available on our website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/oceanic-whitetip-shark#conservation-management.
    In April and November of 2019, we held two 3-day recovery planning 
workshops for the oceanic whitetip shark in Honolulu, Hawaii and Miami, 
Florida, respectively. The purpose of these workshops was to gather 
expert input and perspectives on the best ways for recovering the 
oceanic whitetip shark, including identifying potential recovery 
criteria and actions to address the threats to the species. We invited 
experts in specific topic areas, including the species' biology/
ecology, threats to the species, fisheries management, and the recovery 
planning process itself. Identified experts included representatives of 
Federal agencies, scientific experts, individuals from conservation 
partners and non-governmental organizations, and representatives from 
the commercial fishing industry. The workshop summaries were published 
in late 2019 and are available from our website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/oceanic-whitetip-shark#conservation-management.
    The recovery planning components for the oceanic whitetip shark are 
divided into three separate documents. The first document, the Recovery 
Status Review, provides detailed information on the oceanic whitetip 
shark's biology, ecology, status and threats, and conservation efforts 
to date, which has typically been included in the background section of 
a species' recovery plan. This separate document is designed to inform 
all post-listing activities, including recovery planning, and is a 
comprehensive update to the original 2017 status review (Young et al. 
2017). The Recovery Status Review may be revised as new information 
becomes available. The second document, the Draft Recovery Plan, 
focuses on the statutory components of a recovery plan, as required 
under the ESA to be incorporated to the maximum extent practicable: (1) 
a description of site-specific management actions necessary for the 
conservation and survival of the species (recovery actions); (2) 
objective, measurable criteria that, when met, will allow the species 
to be removed from the endangered and threatened species list; and (3) 
estimates of the time and cost required to achieve the plan's goals.

[[Page 4818]]

Site-specific recovery actions in the Draft Recovery Plan are described 
at a relatively high level and are strategic in nature. The third 
document, the Draft Recovery Implementation Strategy, is a flexible, 
operational document separate from the Draft Recovery Plan that 
provides specific, prioritized activities necessary to fully implement 
recovery actions in the Draft Recovery Plan, while affording us the 
ability to modify these activities efficiently to reflect changes in 
the information available as well as progress towards recovery. All 
three of the recovery planning documents, including the Recovery Status 
Review, the Draft Recovery Plan, and the Draft Recovery Implementation 
Strategy, are available on the NMFS oceanic whitetip shark profile 
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/oceanic-whitetip-shark#conservation-management.
    We have determined that this Draft Recovery Plan for the oceanic 
whitetip shark meets the statutory requirements for a recovery plan and 
are proposing to adopt it as the ESA recovery plan for this threatened 
species. Section 4(f)(4) of the ESA requires that public notice and an 
opportunity to comment be provided prior to final approval of a 
recovery plan. This notice solicits comments on this Draft Recovery 
Plan.

Contents of the Draft Recovery Plan

    The Draft Recovery Plan presents NMFS' proposed recovery goal, 
objectives, and criteria, which, when met, would allow the oceanic 
whitetip shark to be delisted. The proposed demographic and threats-
based recovery objectives and criteria are based on the listing factors 
found in the ESA section 4(a)(1). The proposed demographic and threats-
based recovery objectives and criteria for the oceanic whitetip shark 
address threats from significant population declines, bycatch-related 
mortality in commercial fisheries, international trade of its fins, 
inadequate regulatory mechanisms, and identifies stressors that should 
be monitored for potential future impact, such as climate change. The 
Draft Recovery Plan also describes specific information on the 
following: current status of the oceanic whitetip shark, pressures 
(limiting factors) and threats that have contributed to the species' 
decline, recovery strategies to address the threats, and site-specific 
recovery actions with timelines. The Draft Recovery Plan also estimates 
the time and costs required to implement recovery actions.
    The Draft Recovery Implementation Strategy provides specific, 
prioritized activities necessary to fully implement recovery actions in 
the Draft Recovery Plan. This stepped-down approach will afford us the 
ability to modify these activities efficiently to reflect changes in 
the information available as well as progress towards recovery.

How NMFS and Others Expect To Use the Plan

    In addition to continuing to carry out actions already underway, 
such as satellite tag deployment and analysis, genetic sampling, and 
other research activities, we have begun implementation of other 
actions as described in the plan, such as gear changes in certain 
fisheries and developing additional regulatory measures to help protect 
oceanic whitetip sharks in U.S. waters. After public comment and the 
adoption of the Final Recovery Plan, our intention is to implement the 
actions and activities for which we have authority and funding; 
encourage other Federal, state, and local agencies to implement 
recovery actions and activities for which they have responsibility, 
authority, and funding; and work cooperatively with the public and 
local stakeholders on implementation of other actions and activities. 
We expect the Recovery Plan to guide us and other Federal agencies in 
evaluating Federal actions under ESA section 7, as well as in 
implementing other provisions of the ESA, such as considering permits 
under section 10, and other statutes.

Public Comments Solicited

    We are soliciting written comments on the Draft Recovery Plan. All 
substantive comments received by the date specified above will be 
considered and incorporated, as appropriate, prior to our decision on 
whether to approve this Recovery Plan. While we invite comments on all 
aspects of the Draft Recovery Plan, we are particularly interested in 
comments on the proposed objectives, criteria, and actions, as well as 
comments on the estimated time and cost of recovery actions and 
activities.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: January 19, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-01441 Filed 1-24-23; 8:45 am]
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