[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 73 (Thursday, April 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16109-16110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06590]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE828]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews
for Six Foreign Elasmobranch Species
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the initiation of 5-year reviews of six foreign
elasmobranch species: Argentine angelshark (Squatina argentina), spiny
angelshark (S. guggenheim), narrownose smoothhound shark (Mustelus
schmitti), striped smoothhound shark (M. fasciatus), common guitarfish
(Rhinobatos rhinobatos), and blackchin guitarfish (R. cemciculus). The
Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed
species at least once every 5 years to determine whether a species
should be removed from the list (i.e., delisted), reclassified from an
endangered species to a threatened species (i.e., downlisted), or
reclassified from a threatened species to an endangered species (i.e.,
uplisted). The determination must be based on the best scientific and
commercial data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we
request relevant data (e.g., biology, threats, and conservation
efforts) that have become available since the previous reviews of these
species.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct the 5-year reviews, we must
receive your information no later than September 15, 2025. While we
accept new information about any listed species at any time,
information received after the date stated above may not be considered
for these reviews.
ADDRESSES: Submit your information electronically via the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-
NMFS-2025-0033 in the Search box. Click the ``Comment'' icon, complete
the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Instructions: We may not consider comments or information sent by
another method, to another address or individual, or received after the
date stated above. All comments and information received are a part of
the public record, and we will post the comments for public viewing on
https://www.regulations.gov. All personal identifying information
(e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be
publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or
otherwise sensitive or protected information. We will accept anonymous
comments. Enter ``N/A'' in the required fields to remain anonymous.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Schultz, Office of Protected
Resources, 301-427-8443, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are initiating the 5-year reviews of six
foreign elasmobranch species, including three endangered species
(Argentine angelshark, spiny angelshark, and striped smoothhound shark)
and three threatened species (narrownose smoothhound shark, common
guitarfish, and blackchin guitarfish). Section 4(c)(2) of the ESA
requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least once
[[Page 16110]]
every 5 years to determine whether species should be removed from the
list, changed in status from an endangered species to a threatened
species, or changed in status from a threatened species to an
endangered species (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(2)). Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA
requires us to determine whether any species is an endangered or
threatened species because of any of the following factors: (A) the
present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its
habitat or range; (B) overutilization for commercial, recreational,
scientific, or educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the
inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or
manmade factors affecting its continued existence (16 U.S.C.
1533(a)(1)). Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA requires us to make the
determination based solely on the best scientific and commercial data
available at the time of the review and after taking into account
efforts to protect the species (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(1)(A)). Regulations
(50 CFR 424.21) require us to publish a notice in the Federal Register
announcing species under active review.
In 2015, we published status reviews of the Argentine angelshark,
spiny angelshark, striped smoothhound shark, and narrownose smoothhound
shark. In 2017, we published a status review of the common and
blackchin guitarfishes. These status reviews and additional information
on the species are available on NMFS' website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/foreign-species. After reviewing information available since the
publication of these status reviews, we will make our determinations
regarding the classification of these species and publish them on NMFS'
website. Any recommended changes (i.e., delistings and/or
reclassifications) would require a separate rulemaking process.
Public Solicitation of Relevant Information
To ensure that the 5-year reviews are based on the best scientific
and commercial data available, we are soliciting information from the
public, governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community,
industry, environmental organizations, and other interested parties. We
request information that has become available since the previous
reviews were published in 2015 (Argentine and spiny angelsharks and
striped and narrownose smoothhound sharks) and 2017 (common and
blackchin guitarfishes). Categories of requested information include:
(1) species biology including, but not limited to, abundance,
population trends, demographics, distribution, and diversity; (2)
habitat conditions including, but not limited to, amount, distribution,
suitability, and important features for conservation; (3) degree,
nature, and trends of threats to the species and its habitats,
especially those factors described in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA; (4)
conservation efforts that have been implemented to benefit the species,
including monitoring data demonstrating the effectiveness of such
efforts; and (5) other information, data, or corrections including
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes and improved analytical methods for
evaluating extinction risk.
We request that all information be accompanied by supporting
documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of
pertinent publications. Please submit all information and supporting
documentation electronically (see ADDRESSES section).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: April 14, 2025.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-06590 Filed 4-16-25; 8:45 am]
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