Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
| Citation | 85 FR 12269 |
| Record Number | 2020-04215 |
| Published date | 02 March 2020 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 41 (Monday, March 2, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 41 (Monday, March 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12269-12270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04215]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XA045]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of one renewed U.S. Endangered Species Act
(ESA) Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific enhancement permit (permit 14159-
2R).
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued a renewed ESA
Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific enhancement permit (permit 14159-2R) to
NMFS' California Coastal Office in Long Beach, California. Authorized
activities under this permit are expected to enhance the survival of
the endangered Southern California Distinct Population Segment of
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through rescue and relocation of at-
risk steelhead, ecological research, and invasive species management.
ADDRESSES: The application for permit 14159-2R and the issued permit
are available for review, by appointment, at the foregoing address:
California Coastal Office, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long
Beach, California 90802 (phone: 562-980-4026, fax: 562-980-4027, email
at: [email protected]). The permit application is also
available for review online at the Authorizations and Permits for
Protected Species website: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt McGoogan (phone: 562-980-4026 or
email: [email protected]).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Species Covered in This Notice
Endangered Southern California Distinct Population Segment of
steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
Authority
Scientific 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 part 222-227). NMFS
may issue a scientific enhancement permit only when such a permit is
determined (1) to be applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to
the disadvantage of the listed species which are the subject of the
permit, and (3) is consistent with the purposes and policies set forth
in Section 2 of the ESA. Authority to take listed species is subject to
conditions set forth in the permit.
Pursuant to Section 10(c) of the ESA, a notice of receipt for
permit 14159-2R's application was published in the Federal Register on
February 7, 2019 (84 FR 2492), providing 30 days for public comment
prior to permit processing. No comment was received on this permit
application.
[[Page 12270]]
Permit Issued
Permit 14159-2R
On July 30, 2019, the renewed Section 10(a)(1)(A) scientific
enhancement permit 14159-2R was issued to NMFS' California Coastal
Office in Long Beach, California. This permit authorizes activities
that are expected to enhance the survival of the endangered Southern
California (SC) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) through (1) rescue and relocation of at-risk
steelhead, (2) ecological research, and (3) invasive species
management. Activities associated with these three primary components
could occur anywhere within the range for the SC DPS of steelhead. A
summary of these components is provided as follows.
1. Rescue and Relocation
This component involves rescuing and relocating steelhead from
stream sections experiencing natural dewatering during the dry season
or prolonged periods of below average rainfall. Specific staff listed
on the permit from both NMFS and the California Department of Fish and
Wildlife (CDFW) are authorized to conduct relocation activities and
will follow a predetermined communication and documentation protocol
while implementing these relocation efforts. Standard scientific
methods and equipment (e.g., backpack-electrofishing, nets, seines,
portable air pumps, transport containers, water chillers, etc.) are
authorized for the capture and relocation of steelhead. Captured
steelhead will be transported for release into habitats within the same
watershed (when possible) that are determined likely to maintain
adequate water and habitat quality through the remainder of the dry
season. Because this is an endangered population with low abundance,
relocating steelhead from sections of stream where they will likely
perish is expected to benefit the survival of this species.
2. Ecological Research
Basic information regarding the ecology of endangered SC steelhead
is extremely limited, yet such information is critical for guiding
science-based decisions regarding the conservation of this species.
Field-based investigations authorized under permit 14159-2R are
expected to produce much-needed empirical data, particularly data
concerning the ecology of endangered steelhead. The empirical data
would benefit endangered steelhead through informing species-management
and protection efforts, including enforcement of certain ESA
provisions. Specific NMFS' staff listed on the permit are authorized to
implement this research. Ecological research elements authorized under
permit 14159-2R involve the following: (1) Salvaging steelhead
carcasses to assess age, growth, and toxicology; (2) trapping emergent
fry to assess spawning ecology; (3) capturing juvenile steelhead to
assess the effectiveness of steelhead relocation; (4) collecting and
maintaining steelhead to improve species management and protection; and
(5) developing a predictive model for the maximum size of juvenile
steelhead in streams. Permit 14159-2R authorizes standard scientific
methods and procedures (e.g., Passive Integrated Transponder-tagging,
fin-clip/DNA analysis, scale sampling, otolith analysis, anesthesia
etc.) to conduct these research elements.
3. Invasive Species Management
NMFS' recovery plan for endangered SC steelhead highlights non-
native aquatic plant and animal species as a threat to steelhead in
many watersheds across the SC DPS of steelhead. Non-native fish,
crustaceans, and amphibians can harm steelhead indirectly through
competition for resources (e.g., food, living space) or degradation of
habitat quality and directly through predation on steelhead. As such,
removing these non-native species is expected to be highly beneficial
for steelhead. Specific NMFS and CDFW staff listed on the permit are
authorized to implement standard methods for capture and removal of
invasive species (e.g., backpack-electrofishing, seining, hand-nets,
traps, hook-and-line angling, and spearfishing). Invasive species
management methods will target capture and removal of non-native
species; however, these activities may also result in the capture of
steelhead in the process. Steelhead captured during invasive species
management will be (1) measured for length and weight, (2) potentially
have a tissue sample (i.e., fin clip, scale) taken, and (3) returned
unharmed to the stream. Any non-native species captured will be
humanely euthanized and disposed.
Field activities for the various enhancement components authorized
under permit 14159-2R can occur year-round between July 30, 2019 and
December 31, 2029. The annual sum of take authorized with permit 14159-
2R is as follows: (1) Non-lethal capture and release of up to 4,000
juvenile steelhead while electrofishing, (2) non-lethal capture and
release of up to 200 juvenile steelhead while seining, (3) non-lethal
capture and release of up to 100 adult steelhead using hand net or
seine, (4) collection and retention of up to 110 adult and 300 juvenile
steelhead carcasses, (5) non-lethal capture and release of up to 5
adult and 600 juvenile steelhead for the purpose of applying Passive
Integrated Transponder-tags, (6) non-lethal capture and release up to
2,000 fry during emergent trapping, (7) non-lethal capture of up to 5
juvenile steelhead while hook-and-line angling, and (8) non-lethal
observation of up to 2,000 juvenile and 50 adult steelhead during
instream snorkel surveys. The annual unintentional lethal steelhead
take authorized under permit 14159-2R is up to 241 juvenile, 100 fry,
and 2 adult. The annual intentional (directed) lethal take authorized
under permit 14159-2R is up to 200 steelhead fry.
The activities authorized under permit 14159-2R are expected to
enhance survival and support steelhead recovery across the entire SC
DPS of steelhead and are consistent with recommendations and objectives
outlined in NMFS' Endangered Southern California Steelhead Recovery
Plan. See the application for permit 14159-2R and issued permit for
greater details on the various components of this scientific
enhancement effort including the specific scientific methods and take
allotments authorized for each.
Dated: February 25, 2020.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-04215 Filed 2-28-20; 8:45 am]
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