80 FR 61794 - Endangered Species; Take of Abalone

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 198 (October 14, 2015)

Page Range		61794-61795
FR Document		2015-25985

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

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61794-61795]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25985]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE235


Endangered Species; Take of Abalone

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt for request for one scientific research 
permit and one scientific research and enhancement permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received permit 
application requests for one new scientific research permit and one new 
scientific research and enhancement permit. The proposed research is 
intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management, conservation, and 
recovery efforts. The applications 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 applications 
must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see 
ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on November 13, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the applications should be submitted to 
the Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, 
Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 707-
578-3435 or by email to [email protected] (include the permit 
number in the subject line of the fax or email).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Abrams, Santa Rosa, CA (ph.: 707-
575-6080), Fax: 707-578-3435, email: [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 black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii).

Authority

    Scientific research and 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 222-227). 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 an application listed in this notice 
should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that application 
would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such hearings are held at the 
discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS.

Applications Received

Permit 18761

    Dr. Peter Raimondi, professor and chair of the University of 
California, Santa Cruz, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 
has requested a five year research permit to monitor and research the 
status and trends of endangered black abalone at sites throughout 
California for a period of five years. Monitoring would consist 
primarily of non-lethal, non-capture take to measure, mark, and count 
abalone. At a few experimental sites, habitat restoration efforts would 
be completed to restore crevice communities to their pre-abalone 
decline state, and recruitment modules would be used to better estimate 
recruitment levels. Comparisons would be made between abalone counts in 
``restored'' crevices versus control crevices with and without 
recruitment modules to assess whether habitat restoration and 
recruitment module presence enhance recovery efforts. Some juvenile 
black abalone would be transported in recruitment modules from 
locations that are relatively free of withering syndrome in the north 
(Monterey County), to a withering syndrome-impacted mainland site 
further south (Santa Barbara County). Because the field biologists in 
this project would be likely to encounter dead or moribund black 
abalone, researchers would be permitted to collect dead or obviously 
dying individuals to be used for pathology and histology samples. These 
samples would be important in early identification of disease or toxin 
outbreaks. The information resulting from the research outlined above 
would be used to follow recovery in wild abalone, track disease spread 
and population decline, and better understand habitat preferences that 
may aid in facilitating recovery.

Permit 19571

    The NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), La Jolla, 
California has requested a five year research and enhancement permit 
for the captive maintenance, breeding, lab experiments, epipodial 
tissue sampling, observation, and transport of endangered black 
abalone. The main purpose of this research would be to develop 
successful techniques for consistent production of high quality 
juvenile black abalone to support future outplanting efforts. Research 
would examine: 1) Spawning conditioning related to various diet and 
temperature regimes, 2) cues for spawning including thermal shock and 
hydrogen peroxide treatments, 3) veliger settlement, 4) and growth and 
survival. Eight of the black abalone proposed to be used for this 
research were previously transferred from the Space and Naval Warfare 
Systems Center Pacific Abalone Farm to the SWFSC Aquarium Culture 
Facility in La Jolla, California. These pre-listed abalone have been in 
captivity since before black abalone were listed as

[[Page 61795]]

Endangered under the ESA. Additional pre-listed black abalone for this 
research may be transferred from the University of California, Santa 
Barbara, or other facilities that currently maintain pre-listed black 
abalone. In addition, wild origin black abalone may be obtained for 
this research through confiscations due to law enforcement cases, or 
from projects covered under ESA Section 7 consultations.
    The research proposed would support the development of management 
strategies necessary for the successful recovery of this species and 
possibly assist natural resource managers in the future selection of 
the location and size of marine protected areas designed to protect 
black abalone. Prior efforts to spawn and produce black abalone spat 
have been unsuccessful, so this proposed work would seek to better 
condition black abalone for successful spawning and to improve 
fertilization success, settlement, and recruitment.
    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 applications meet 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: October 7, 2015.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25985 Filed 10-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

61794 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 198 / Wednesday, October 14, 2015 / Notices

novelty of the issues presented, or the may be viewed online at: https:// throughout California for a period of
number of firms whose activities must apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_ five years. Monitoring would consist
be investigated, and additional time is open_for_comment.cfm. primarily of non-lethal, non-capture
necessary to make the preliminary DATES: Comments or requests for a take to measure, mark, and count
determination. Under this section of the public hearing on the applications must abalone. At a few experimental sites,
Act, the Department may postpone the be received at the appropriate address or habitat restoration efforts would be
preliminary determination until no later fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later completed to restore crevice
than 190 days after the date on which than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on communities to their pre-abalone
the Department initiated the November 13, 2015. decline state, and recruitment modules
investigation. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the would be used to better estimate
The Department determines that the applications should be submitted to the recruitment levels. Comparisons would
parties involved in these corrosion- Protected Resources Division, NMFS, be made between abalone counts in
resistant steel AD investigations are 777 Sonoma Avenue, Room 325, Santa ‘‘restored’’ crevices versus control
cooperating, and that the investigations Rosa, CA 95404. Comments may also be crevices with and without recruitment
are extraordinarily complicated. submitted via fax to 707–578–3435 or by modules to assess whether habitat
Additional time is required to analyze restoration and recruitment module
email to nmfs.swr.apps@noaa.gov
the questionnaire responses and issue presence enhance recovery efforts. Some
(include the permit number in the
appropriate requests for clarification juvenile black abalone would be
subject line of the fax or email).
and additional information. transported in recruitment modules
Therefore, in accordance with section FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff
from locations that are relatively free of
733(c)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR Abrams, Santa Rosa, CA (ph.: 707–575– withering syndrome in the north
351.205(f)(1), the Department is 6080), Fax: 707–578–3435, email: (Monterey County), to a withering
postponing the time period for the Jeff.Abrams@noaa.gov). Permit syndrome-impacted mainland site
preliminary determinations of these application instructions are available further south (Santa Barbara County).
investigations by 41 days, to December from the address above, or online at Because the field biologists in this
21, 2015. Pursuant to section 735(a)(1) https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov. project would be likely to encounter
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: dead or moribund black abalone,
deadline for the final determinations Species Covered in This Notice researchers would be permitted to
will continue to be 75 days after the collect dead or obviously dying
date of the preliminary determinations, The following listed species are individuals to be used for pathology and
unless postponed at a later date. covered in this notice: histology samples. These samples
This notice is issued and published Endangered black abalone (Haliotis
would be important in early
pursuant to section 733(c)(2) of the Act cracherodii).
identification of disease or toxin
and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1). Authority outbreaks. The information resulting
Dated: October 7, 2015. Scientific research and enhancement from the research outlined above would
Paul Piquado, permits are issued in accordance with be used to follow recovery in wild
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. abalone, track disease spread and
Compliance. 1531 et seq.) and regulations governing population decline, and better
[FR Doc. 2015–26138 Filed 10–13–15; 8:45 am] listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR understand habitat preferences that may
parts 222–227). NMFS issues permits aid in facilitating recovery.
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
based on findings that such permits: (1) Permit 19571
Are applied for in good faith; (2) if The NMFS Southwest Fisheries
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE granted and exercised, would not Science Center (SWFSC), La Jolla,
operate to the disadvantage of the listed California has requested a five year
National Oceanic and Atmospheric species that are the subject of the
Administration research and enhancement permit for
permit; and (3) are consistent with the the captive maintenance, breeding, lab
RIN 0648–XE235 purposes and policy of section 2 of the experiments, epipodial tissue sampling,
ESA. The authority to take listed species observation, and transport of
Endangered Species; Take of Abalone is subject to conditions set forth in the endangered black abalone. The main
permits. purpose of this research would be to
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Anyone requesting a hearing on an develop successful techniques for
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
application listed in this notice should consistent production of high quality
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
set out the specific reasons why a juvenile black abalone to support future
Commerce.
hearing on that application would be outplanting efforts. Research would
ACTION: Notice of receipt for request for appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such
one scientific research permit and one examine: 1) Spawning conditioning
hearings are held at the discretion of the related to various diet and temperature
scientific research and enhancement Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
permit. regimes, 2) cues for spawning including
NMFS. thermal shock and hydrogen peroxide
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Applications Received treatments, 3) veliger settlement, 4) and
NMFS has received permit application growth and survival. Eight of the black
requests for one new scientific research Permit 18761 abalone proposed to be used for this
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

permit and one new scientific research Dr. Peter Raimondi, professor and research were previously transferred
and enhancement permit. The proposed chair of the University of California, from the Space and Naval Warfare
research is intended to increase Santa Cruz, Department of Ecology and Systems Center Pacific Abalone Farm to
knowledge of species listed under the Evolutionary Biology, has requested a the SWFSC Aquarium Culture Facility
Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to five year research permit to monitor and in La Jolla, California. These pre-listed
help guide management, conservation, research the status and trends of abalone have been in captivity since
and recovery efforts. The applications endangered black abalone at sites before black abalone were listed as

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 198 / Wednesday, October 14, 2015 / Notices 61795

Endangered under the ESA. Additional and webinars; and a Review Workshop. and researchers; constituency
pre-listed black abalone for this research See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. representatives including fishermen,
may be transferred from the University DATES: SEDAR 41 Assessment Webinar environmentalists, and non-
of California, Santa Barbara, or other 1 will be held on Monday, November 2, governmental organizations (NGOs);
facilities that currently maintain pre- 2015, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. international experts; and staff of
listed black abalone. In addition, wild ADDRESSES: Councils, Commissions, and state and
origin black abalone may be obtained for Meeting address: The meeting will be federal agencies.
this research through confiscations due held via webinar. The webinar is open The items of discussion in the
to law enforcement cases, or from to members of the public. Those Assessment webinar are as follows:
projects covered under ESA Section 7 interested in participating should Participants will discuss and provide
consultations. contact Julia Byrd at SEDAR (see FOR modeling advice to prepare for the
The research proposed would support FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to Assessment Workshop.
the development of management request an invitation providing webinar Although non-emergency issues not
strategies necessary for the successful access information. Please request contained in this agenda may come
recovery of this species and possibly webinar invitations at least 24 hours in before this group for discussion, those
assist natural resource managers in the advance of each webinar. issues may not be the subject of formal
future selection of the location and size SEDAR address: South Atlantic action during this meeting. Action will
of marine protected areas designed to Fishery Management Council, 4055 be restricted to those issues specifically
protect black abalone. Prior efforts to Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. identified in this notice and any issues
spawn and produce black abalone spat Charleston, SC 29405; arising after publication of this notice
have been unsuccessful, so this www.sedarweb.org. that require emergency action under
proposed work would seek to better FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
condition black abalone for successful Byrd, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber Fishery Conservation and Management
spawning and to improve fertilization Place Drive, Suite 201, North Act, provided the public has been
success, settlement, and recruitment. Charleston, SC 29405; phone (843) 571- notified of the intent to take final action
This notice is provided pursuant to 4366; email: julia.byrd@safmc.net. to address the emergency.
section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
evaluate the applications, associated Special Accommodations
of Mexico, South Atlantic, and
documents, and comments submitted to Caribbean Fishery Management This meeting is accessible to people
determine whether the applications Councils, in conjunction with NOAA with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary
meet the requirements of section 10(a) Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf aids should be directed to the SAFMC
of the ESA and Federal regulations. The States Marine Fisheries Commissions, office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10
final permit decisions will not be made have implemented the Southeast Data, business days prior to the meeting.
until after the end of the 30-day Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Note: The times and sequence specified in
comment period. NMFS will publish process, a multi-step method for this agenda are subject to change.
notice of its final action in the Federal determining the status of fish stocks in
Register. the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a three- Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 7, 2015. step process including: (1) Data Dated: October 8, 2015.
Angela Somma, Workshop; (2) Assessment Process Tracey L. Thompson,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office utilizing a workshop and/or webinars;
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
of Protected Resources, National Marine and (3) Review Workshop. The product Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Fisheries Service. of the Data Workshop is a data report
[FR Doc. 2015–26118 Filed 10–13–15; 8:45 am]
[FR Doc. 2015–25985 Filed 10–13–15; 8:45 am] which compiles and evaluates potential
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
datasets and recommends which
datasets are appropriate for assessment
analyses. The product of the Assessment DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Process is a stock assessment report
which describes the fisheries, evaluates National Oceanic and Atmospheric
National Oceanic and Atmospheric the status of the stock, estimates Administration
Administration biological benchmarks, projects future
population conditions, and recommends RIN 0648–XE239
RIN 0648–XE238 research and monitoring needs. The
assessment is independently peer Fisheries of the South Atlantic, Gulf of
Fisheries of the South Atlantic;
reviewed at the Review Workshop. The Mexico, and Caribbean; Southeast
Southeast Data, Assessment, and
product of the Review Workshop is a Data, Assessment, and Review
Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
Summary documenting panel opinions (SEDAR); Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries regarding the strengths and weaknesses
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and of the stock assessment and input data. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Participants for SEDAR Workshops are Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Commerce. appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 41 Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Commerce.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Assessment Webinar 1. Management Councils and NOAA ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office,
SUMMARY: The SEDAR 41 assessments of Highly Migratory Species Management SUMMARY: The SEDAR Steering
the South Atlantic stocks of red snapper Division, and Southeast Fisheries Committee will meet via webinar to
and gray triggerfish will consist of a Science Center. Participants include: discuss the SEDAR assessment
series of workshop and webinars: Data Data collectors and database managers; schedule. See SUPPLEMENTARY
Workshops; an Assessment Workshop stock assessment scientists, biologists, INFORMATION.

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Document Created: 2018-02-27 08:50:32
Document Modified: 2018-02-27 08:50:32

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of receipt for request for one scientific research permit and one scientific research and enhancement permit.
Dates		Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications
Contact		Jeff Abrams, Santa Rosa, CA (ph.: 707- 575-6080), Fax: 707-578-3435, email: [email protected]). Permit
FR Citation		80 FR 61794
RIN Number		0648-XE23

80 FR 61794 - Endangered Species; Take of Abalone

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 198 (October 14, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration