[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 117 (Friday, June 18, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34184-34185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13731]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 042604A]
Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Gulf of
Maine Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Atlantic Salmon
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce; and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Gulf of
Maine Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo
salar).
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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (FWS)(collectively, the Services) announce the
availability for public review of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Gulf
of Maine DPS of Atlantic Salmon. The Services are soliciting review and
comment on the draft plan from the public and all interested parties.
DATES: The comment period for this proposal closes on September 16,
2004. The Services will consider and address all substantive comments
that are received during the comment period. In addition to making this
draft plan available for public review, it is simultaneously being
submitted for agency and peer review. After consideration of all
substantive comments received during the review period, the Recovery
Plan will be submitted for final approval. Comments on the Draft
Recovery Plan must be received before the closing date.
The Services have scheduled two public meetings/hearings in the
State of Maine to discuss the Draft Recovery Plan with interested
parties and solicit comments. Both meetings/hearings will start at 6:00
p.m. on the dates indicated:
(1) July 14, 2004. University of Maine at Machias, The Science
Building Lecture Hall.
(2) July 15, 2004. Augusta Civic Center, Kennebec/Penobscot Room.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments and materials to the Atlantic
Salmon Recovery Plan Coordinator at the address provided above. In
addition, the Services are accepting electronic comments (i.e., email)
on the Draft Recovery Plan at the following address:
[email protected].
Persons wishing to review the Draft Recovery Plan can obtain a copy
from the Atlantic Salmon Recovery Plan Coordinator, National Marine
Fisheries Service, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Electronic copies of the Draft Recovery Plan are also available on-line
on the NMFS (www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/) and FWS (www.fws.gov) websites.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Minton (NMFS), Atlantic Salmon
Recovery Plan Coordinator (978-281-9328 extension 6534); Pat Scida
(NMFS), Endangered Species Coordinator (978-281-9208); or Martin Miller
(FWS), Chief, Endangered Species Division (413-253-8615).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Recovery Plans describe actions considered necessary for the
conservation and recovery of species listed under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.),
establish criteria for the downlisting or delisting of such species and
estimate the time and costs required to implement recovery actions. The
Act requires the development of Recovery Plans for listed species
unless such a plan would not promote the recovery of a particular
species. Section 4(f) of the
[[Page 34185]]
Act, as amended in 1988, requires that public notice and an opportunity
for public review and comment be provided during Recovery Plan
development. The Services will consider all substantive comments and
information presented during the public comment period in the course of
finalizing this Recovery Plan.
The Gulf of Maine DPS of Atlantic salmon was listed as endangered
under the Act on December 17, 2000 (65 FR 69459). The DPS includes all
persistent, naturally reproducing populations of Atlantic salmon from
the Kennebec River downstream of the former Edwards Dam site, northward
to the mouth of the St. Croix River. At the time of listing, there were
at least eight rivers in the geographic range of the DPS known to still
support wild Atlantic salmon populations (Dennys, East Machias,
Machias, Pleasant, Narraguagus, Ducktrap and Sheepscot Rivers and Cove
Brook). In addition to these eight rivers, there are at least 14 small
coastal rivers within the historic range of the DPS from which wild
salmon populations have been extirpated.
The Gulf of Maine DPS has declined to critically low levels. Adult
returns have continued to decline since the listing. In 2002, total
adult returns to the eight rivers still supporting wild Atlantic salmon
populations within the DPS were estimated to range from 23 to 46
individuals. No adults were documented in three of the eight rivers.
Juvenile abundance estimates and survival have also continued to
decline. Declining smolt production has been documented in recent
years, despite fry stocking.
The Recovery Plan includes prioritized actions to recover the Gulf
of Maine DPS. The major areas of action are designed to stop and
reverse the downward population trends of the eight wild Atlantic
salmon populations and minimize the potential for human activities to
result in the degradation or destruction of Atlantic salmon habitat
essential to its survival and recovery. The Draft Recovery Plan
identifies the following actions as necessary for the full recovery of
the DPS: (1) Protect and restore freshwater and estuarine habitat; (2)
prevent take in freshwater, estuarine and marine fisheries; (3) reduce
predation and competition on all life stages of Atlantic salmon; (4)
reduce risks from commercial aquaculture operations; (5) supplement
wild populations with hatchery-reared DPS salmon; (6) conserve the
genetic integrity of the DPS; (7) assess stock status of key life
stages; (8) promote salmon recovery through increased public and
government awareness; and (9) assess effectiveness of recovery actions
and revise as appropriate.
The recovery planning process included a ``threats assessment'',
which evaluated the geographic extent and the severity of threats to
various life-stages of Atlantic salmon in the DPS. This evaluation
resulted in the following threats being identified as high priority for
action to reverse the decline of Atlantic salmon populations in the
Gulf of Maine DPS: (1) Aquaculture practices which pose ecological and
genetic risks; (2) acidified water and associated aluminum toxicity
which decrease juvenile survival; (3) poaching of adults in DPS rivers;
(4) incidental capture of adults and parr by recreational fishermen;
(5) predation; and (6) excessive or unregulated water withdrawal.
Public Comments Solicited
The Services solicit written comments on the draft Recovery Plan.
All substantive comments received by the date specified above will be
considered prior to final approval of the Recovery Plan.
As is noted in the Recovery Plan, the National Research Council
(NRC) was asked to describe what is known about the genetic makeup of
Atlantic salmon in Maine and issued a report on this subject in January
2002. The NRC was also asked to assess the causes of decline and to
suggest strategies for the rehabilitation of Atlantic salmon in Maine
and issued a report addressing this issue on January 20, 2004. The
Services' preliminary review of the NRC's January 20, 2004 report
indicates that the report's findings are generally consistent with this
draft Recovery Plan. However, several issues within this report warrant
additional consideration as we develop a final recovery plan. The most
significant of these issues include: (1) risks associated with the
research and monitoring; (2) mortality as smolts transition from
freshwater to the ocean; (3) potential impacts of hatchery operations;
and (4) the need for a structured and inclusive risk and decision
analysis process.
The Services are seeking public comment on these and other findings
and recommendations in the NRC report as they relate to this Recovery
Plan. It is important to note that the scope of the NRC report is
broader than this Recovery Plan; the NRC report considered all Atlantic
salmon populations in Maine, whereas the Recovery Plan focuses only on
the Gulf of Maine DPS.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: May 14, 2004.
Laurie K. Allen,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
Dated: May 12, 2004.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Regional Director, Region 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-13731 Filed 6-17-04; 8:45 am]
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