Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat: Notice of Finding on a Petition to List Five Rockfish Species in Puget Sound (Washington) as Endangered or Threatened Species Under the Endangered Species Act, 14195-14200 [E8-5309]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 52 (Monday, March 17, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14195-14200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5309]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223 and 224

[Docket No. 080229341-8367-01]
RIN 0648-XF89


Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating 
Critical Habitat: Notice of Finding on a Petition to List Five Rockfish 
Species in Puget Sound (Washington) as Endangered or Threatened Species 
Under the Endangered Species Act

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

ACTION: Notice of finding; request for information, and initiation of 
status review.

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SUMMARY: On October 29, 2007, we, NMFS, received new information and a 
request to reconsider our ``not warranted'' finding on a petition 
submitted in April 2007 to list bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis), canary 
rockfish (S. pinniger), yelloweye rockfish (S. ruberrimus), greenstripe 
rockfish (S. elongatus) and redstripe rockfish (S. proriger) in Puget 
Sound (Washington) as endangered or threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). We consider this a new petition and find 
that this new petition presents substantial scientific or commercial 
information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. 
Accordingly, we are initiating a status review of these five rockfish 
species. To ensure that the status review is complete and based upon 
the best available scientific and commercial information, we are 
soliciting information regarding the population structure and status of 
these rockfish species.

DATES: Information and comments on the subject action must be received 
by May 16, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the code 0648-XF89, 
addressed to: Chief, NMFS, Protected Resources Division, by any of the 
following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov
     Facsimile (fax): 503-231-5441
     Mail: 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, 
Oregon, 97232.
     Hand delivery: You may hand-deliver written comments to 
our office

[[Page 14196]]

during normal business hours at the street address given above.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and may be posted to https://www.regulations.gov or https://
www.nwr.noaa.gov without change. All personally identifiable 
information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by 
the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential 
business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. 
NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments 
will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, Corel WordPerfect, or Adobe 
PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, NMFS, Northwest Region, 
(503) 231-2005; or Dwayne Meadows, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 
(301) 713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 9, 2007, we received a petition from Mr. Sam Wright 
(Olympia, Washington) to list distinct population segments (DPSs) of 
bocaccio, canary rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, greenstripe rockfish, 
and redstripe rockfish in Puget Sound as endangered or threatened 
species under the ESA and to designate critical habitat. We declined to 
initiate a review of the species' status under the ESA, finding that 
the petition failed to present substantial scientific or commercial 
information to suggest that the petitioned actions may be warranted (72 
FR 56986; October 5, 2007). On October 29, 2007, we received a letter 
from Sam Wright presenting information that was not included in the 
April 2007 petition, and requesting that we reconsider our October 5, 
2007, decision not to initiate a review of the species' status. We 
considered the supplemental information provided in the letter, in 
addition to the information submitted previously in the April 2007 
petition, as a new petition to list bocaccio, canary rockfish, 
yelloweye rockfish, greenstripe rockfish, and redstripe rockfish and to 
designate critical habitat. Copies of the April 2007 petition, our 
October 2007 petition finding, and the October 2007 letter are 
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES, above).

ESA Statutory, Regulatory, and Policy Provisions

    Section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) contains 
provisions concerning petitions from interested persons requesting the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to list species under the (ESA) (16 
U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)(A)). Section 4(b)(3)(A) requires that, to the maximum 
extent practicable, within 90 days after receiving such a petition, the 
Secretary make a finding whether the petition presents substantial 
scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned 
action may be warranted. Joint NOAA-U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS) ESA implementing regulations define ``substantial information'' 
as the amount of information that would lead a reasonable person to 
believe that the measure proposed in the petition may be warranted (50 
CFR 424.14(b)(1)). In evaluating a petitioned action, the Secretary 
considers whether the petition contains a detailed narrative 
justification for the recommended measure, including: past and present 
numbers and distribution of the species involved, and any threats faced 
by the species (50 CFR 424.14(b)(2)(ii)); and information regarding the 
status of the species throughout all or a significant portion of its 
range (50 CFR 424.14(b)(2)(iii)). In addition to the information 
presented in a petition, we review other data and publications readily 
available to our scientists (i.e., currently within agency files) to 
determine whether it is in general agreement with the information 
presented in the petition. When it is found that substantial 
information is presented in the petition, we are required to promptly 
commence a review of the status of the species concerned. Within 1 year 
of receipt of the petition, we must make one of the following findings: 
(1) the petitioned action is not warranted; (2) the petitioned action 
is warranted, in which case we must promptly publish a propped listing 
determination; or (3) the petitioned action is warranted but that a 
proposed listing is precluded by pending rulemaking for other species.
    Under the ESA, a listing determination may address a species, 
subspecies, or a DPS of any vertebrate species which interbreeds when 
mature (16 U.S.C. 1532(15)). A joint NOAA-USFWS policy clarifies the 
agencies' interpretation of the phrase ``distinct population segment of 
any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife'' (ESA section 3(16)) for 
the purposes of listing, delisting, and reclassifying a species under 
the ESA (61 FR 4722, February 7, 1996). The joint DPS policy 
established two criteria that must be met for a population or group of 
populations to be considered a DPS: (1) the population segment must be 
discrete in relation to the remainder of the species (or subspecies) to 
which it belongs; and (2) the population segment must be significant to 
the remainder of the species (or subspecies) to which it belongs. A 
population segment may be considered discrete if it satisfies either 
one of the following conditions: (1) it is markedly separated from 
other populations of the same biological taxon as a consequence of 
physical, physiological, ecological, or behavioral factors 
(quantitative measures of genetic or morphological discontinuity may 
provide evidence of this separation); or (2) it is delimited by 
international governmental boundaries across which there is a 
significant difference in exploitation control, habitat management, 
conservation status, or if regulatory mechanisms exist that are 
significant in light of section 4(a)(1) of the ESA. If a population is 
determined to be discrete, the agency must then consider whether it is 
significant to the taxon to which it belongs. Considerations in 
evaluating the significance of a discrete population include: (1) 
persistence of the discrete population in an unusual or unique 
ecological setting for the taxon; (2) evidence that the loss of the 
discrete population segment would cause a significant gap in the 
taxon's range; (3) evidence that the discrete population segment 
represents the only surviving natural occurrence of a taxon that may be 
more abundant elsewhere outside its historical geographic range; or (4) 
evidence that the discrete population has marked genetic differences 
from other populations of the species.
    A species, subspecies, or DPS is ``endangered'' if it is in danger 
of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, or 
``threatened'' if it is likely to become endangered within the 
foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range 
(ESA Sections 3(6) and 3(20), respectively).

Listing Factors and Basis for Determination

    Under section 4(a)(1) of the ESA, a species can be determined to be 
threatened or endangered based on any of the following factors: (1) The 
present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its 
habitat or range; (2) overutilization for commercial, recreational, 
scientific, or educational purposes; (3) disease or predation; (4) 
inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (5) other natural or 
manmade factors affecting the species continuing existence. Listing 
determinations are based solely on the best available scientific and 
commercial data after taking into account any efforts

[[Page 14197]]

being made by any state or foreign nation to protect the species.

Distribution and Life-History Traits of Rockfishes

    Rockfishes are a diverse group of marine fishes (about one hundred 
and two species worldwide and at least seventy-two species in the 
northeastern Pacific (Kendall, 1991)), and are among the most common 
benthic fish on the Pacific coast of North America (Love et al., 2002). 
Adult rockfish can be the most abundant fish in various coastal benthic 
habitats such as relatively shallow subtidal kelp forests, rocky reefs, 
and rocky outcrops in submarine canyons at depths greater than 980 feet 
(300 m) (Yoklavich, 1998). The life history of rockfish is different 
than that of most other bony fishes. Whereas most bony fishes fertilize 
their eggs externally, fertilization and embryo development in 
rockfishes is internal, and female rockfish give birth to live larval 
young. Larvae are found in surface waters, and may be distributed over 
a wide area extending several hundred miles (several hundred 
kilometers) offshore (Love et al., 2002). Larvae and small juvenile 
rockfish may remain in open waters for several months being passively 
dispersed by ocean currents. The dispersal potential for larvae varies 
by species depending on the length of time larvae remain in the pelagic 
environment (i.e., ``pelagic larval duration''), and the fecundity of 
females (i.e., the more larval propagules a species produces, the 
greater the potential that some larvae will be transported long 
distances). Larval rockfish feed on diatoms, dinoflagellates, 
tintinnids, and cladocerans, and juveniles consume copepods and 
euphausiids of all life stages (Sumida and Moster, 1984). Survival and 
subsequent recruitment of young rockfishes exhibit considerable 
interannual variability (Ralston and Howard, 1995). New recruits may be 
found in tide pool habitats, and shallow coastal waters associated with 
rocky bottoms and algae (Love, 1996; Sauma and Ralston, 1995). Juvenile 
and subadults may be more common than adults in shallow water, and are 
associated with rocky reefs, kelp canopies, and artificial structures 
such as piers and oil platforms (Love et al., 2002). Adults generally 
move into deeper water as they increase in size and age (Garrison and 
Miller, 1982; Love, 1996), but generally exhibit strong site fidelity 
to rocky bottoms and outrcrops (Yoklavich et al., 2000). Adults eat 
demersal invertebrates and small fishes, including other species of 
rockfish, associated with kelp beds, rocky reefs, pinnacles, and sharp 
drop-offs (Love, 1996; Sumida and Moser, 1984). Many species of 
rockfishes are slow-growing, long-lived (50-140 years; Archibald et 
al., 1981), and mature at older ages (6-12 yrs; Wyllie-Echeverria, 
1987).
    Bocaccio Bocaccio range from Punta Blanca, Baja California, to the 
Gulf of Alaska off Krozoff and Kodiak Islands (Chen, 1971; Miller and 
Lea, 1972). They are most common within this range between Oregon and 
northern Baja California (Love et al., 2002). Bocaccio are most common 
between 160 and 820 feet (50 and 250 m) depth, but may be found as deep 
as 1560 feet (475 m) (Orr et al., 2000). Bocaccio larvae have 
relatively high dispersal potential with a pelagic larval duration of 
approximately 155 days (Shanks and Eckert, 2005), and fecundity ranging 
from 20,000 to over 2 million eggs, considerably more than many other 
rockfish species (Love et al., 2002). Approximately 50 percent of 
adults mature in 4 to 6 years (MBC, 1987). Adults are difficult to age, 
but are suspected to live as long as 50 years (Love et al., 2002).
    Canary Rockfish - Canary rockfish range between Punta Colnett, Baja 
California, and the Western Gulf of Alaska (Boehlert, 1980; Mecklenburg 
et al., 2002). Within this range canary rockfish are most common off 
the coast of central Oregon (Richardson and Laroche, 1979). Canary 
rockfish primarily inhabit waters 160 to 820 feet (50 to 250 m) deep 
(Orr et al., 2000), but may be found up to 1400 feet (425 m) depth 
(Boehlert, 1980). Canary rockfish larvae have relatively high dispersal 
potential with a pelagic larval duration of approximately 116 days 
(Shanks and Eckert, 2005), and fecundity ranging from 260,000 to 1.9 
million eggs, considerably more than many other rockfish species (Love 
et al., 2002). Approximately 50 percent of adults are mature at 14 
inches (35.6 cm) total length (5 to 6 years of age) (Hart, 1973). 
Canary rockfish can live to be 75 years old (Love, 1996).
    Greenstripe Rockfish - Greenstripe rockfish range from Cedros 
Island, Baja California, to Green Island in the Gulf of Alaska. Within 
this range greenstripe rockfish are common between British Columbia and 
Punta Colnett in Northern Baja California (Eschmeyer et al., 1983; 
Hart, 1973; Love et al., 2002). Greenstripe rockfish is a deep-water 
species that can inhabit waters from 170 to 2715 feet (52 to 828 m) in 
depth, but is most common between 330 and 820 feet (100 and 250 m) 
depth (Orr et al., 2000). Estimates of pelagic larval duration and 
fecundity are not available for greenstripe rockfish to infer dispersal 
potential, although we expect that larval duration would be similar to 
or lower than that for bocaccio or canary rockfish (116-155 days; 
Varanasi, 2007). Approximately 50 percent of adults mature at 7 to 7.5 
inches (18 to 19 cm) total length (Love et al., 1990). Male greenstripe 
rockfish can live to approximately 37 years of age, and females to 
approximately 28 years of age (Love et al., 1990).
    Redstripe Rockfish - Redstripe rockfish occur from southern Baja 
California to the Bering Sea (Hart, 1973; Love et al., 2002). Redstripe 
rockfish have been reported between 39 and 1400 feet (12 and 425 m) in 
depth, but 95 percent occur between 490 and 900 feet (150 and 275 m) 
(Love et al., 2002). Estimates of pelagic larval duration and fecundity 
are not available for redstripe rockfish to infer dispersal potential, 
although we expect that larval duration would be similar to or lower 
than that for bocaccio or canary rockfish (116-155 days; Varanasi, 
2007). Approximately 50 percent of adults mature at 11 to 11.5 inches 
(28 to 29 cm) total length (Garrison and Miller, 1982), and may reach 
55 years of age (Munk, 2001).
    Yelloweye Rockfish - Yelloweye rockfish range from northern Baja 
California to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, but are most common from 
central California northward to the Gulf of Alaska (Clemens and Wilby, 
1961; Eschmeyer et al., 1983; Hart, 1973; Love, 1996). Yelloweye 
rockfish occur in waters 80 to 1560 feet (25 to 475 m) deep (Orr et 
al., 2000), but are most commonly found between 300 to 590 feet (91 to 
180 m) depth (Love et al., 2002). Approximately 50 percent of adults 
are mature by 16 inches (41 cm) total length (about 6 years) (Love, 
1996). Estimates of pelagic larval duration are not available for 
yelloweye rockfish, although we expect that it would be similar to or 
lower than that for bocaccio or canary rockfish (116-155 days; 
Varanasi, 2007). Fecundity ranges from 1.2 to 2.7 million eggs, 
considerably more than many other rockfish species (Love et al., 2002). 
Yelloweye rockfish are among the longest lived of rockfishes, living to 
be at least 118 years old (Love, 1996; Love et al., 2002; O'Connell and 
Funk, 1986).

Previous Rockfish Petitions and Status Review

    In February 1999 we received a petition from Mr. Wright to list 18 
species of marine fishes in Puget Sound under the ESA, including 14 
species of rockfish. We issued a positive 90-day finding on June 21, 
1999 (64 FR 33037), and initiated ESA status reviews for

[[Page 14198]]

seven of the petitioned species, including three rockfish species 
(copper, brown and quillback rockfishes). For the remaining 11 
petitioned rockfish species, which included the five rockfish species 
that are the subject of this notice, we found that there was 
insufficient information concerning stock structure, status and trends. 
Consequently, for these 11 species, we found that the petition failed 
to present substantial information to suggest that listing these 
species in Puget Sound may be warranted.
    In 2001 we convened a Biological Review Team (BRT) to evaluate the 
population structure and biological status of the three rockfish 
species for which we initiated status reviews. The BRT concluded that 
the brown, copper and quillback rockfishes in Puget Sound Proper 
(defined as east of Deception Pass and to the south and east of 
Admiralty Head, encompassing southern Puget Sound, Whidbey Basin, Hood 
Canal, and the main Basin) constitute DPSs for consideration as 
``species'' under the ESA (Stout et al., 2001). On April 3, 2001, we 
concluded that these DPSs did not warrant listing as threatened or 
endangered species (66 FR 17659). Although these DPSs had experienced 
declines over the last 40 years, likely due to overharvest, we noted 
that the populations appeared stable over the most recent 5 years.
    In September 2006, we received another petition from Mr. Wright to 
list the Puget Sound DPSs of copper and quillback rockfishes as 
endangered or threatened species under the ESA. The petition did not 
include new data or information regarding the abundance, trends, 
productivity, or distribution for these species. The petitioner 
criticized the risk assessment methods of the 2001 BRT and disagreed 
with our conclusion that the two DPSs did not warrant listing. We 
determined that the September 2006 petition from Mr. Wright failed to 
present substantial scientific and commercial information to suggest 
that the ESA listing of copper and quillback rockfishes in Puget Sound 
may be warranted (72 FR 2863; January 23, 2007).

Analysis of Mr. Wright's New Petition

    We reviewed the information from Mr. Wright's April 2007 petition, 
the supplemental information provided in his October 2007 letter, as 
well as other information readily available to our scientists (i.e., 
currently within our files), to determine if the new petition presents 
substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the 
petitioned actions may be warranted. Specifically, we evaluated 
whether: (1) the 5 rockfish species may warrant delineation into one or 
more DPSs; and (2) the 5 species, or putative DPSs, may be in danger of 
extinction or likely to become so within the foreseeable future 
throughout all or a significant portion of their range.

Information Regarding the DPS Structure of the Five Rockfish Species in 
Puget Sound

    Under the 1996 joint DPS policy, a population or group of 
populations is considered a DPS if it is ``discrete'' and 
``significant'' to the remainder of the species to which it belongs (51 
FR 4722; February 7, 1996). The petitioner contends that the five 
petitioned species likely warrant delineation as Puget Sound DPSs based 
on: (1) relatively closed oceanographic circulation patterns in the 
Puget Sound area (see Stout et al., 2001, at p. 75) that should promote 
the retention of rockfish larvae originating within Puget Sound, and 
limit the delivery of larvae from sources external to Puget Sound; and 
(2) NMFS' finding in 2001 that brown, copper, and quillback rockfishes 
in Puget Sound respectively warranted delineation as DPSs (Stout et 
al., 2001; 66 FR 17659, April 3, 2001). Although the five petitioned 
rockfish species may be considered to have high dispersal ``potential'' 
due to their long pelagic larval duration and high fecundity, their 
realized larval dispersal is determined to a large extent by local 
oceanographic patterns and larval behavior (Varanasi, 2007). Since the 
larvae of these rockfish species are generally associated with surface 
waters during the pelagic dispersal phase, we agree with the petitioner 
that the relatively closed circulation patterns of surface waters in 
Puget Sound lends support to the ``discreteness'' of these species in 
Puget Sound. Although, as the petitioner acknowledges, there are no 
population genetic studies of the five petitioned species that include 
samples from Puget Sound, the available studies of West Coast rockfish 
suggest that it is reasonable to suspect that there are genetically 
discrete Puget Sound population segments for these species. There are 
examples of rockfish populations exhibiting genetic differences in 
relation to circulation patterns and biogeographic barriers, many of 
which are probably less restrictive to trans-boundary larval dispersal 
than the entrance to Puget Sound (Sekino et al., 2001; Varanasi, 2007). 
Even on the open coast where one might expect oceanographic patterns to 
result in considerable larval exchange and strong genetic similarities 
among stocks, the available genetic studies indicate that rockfish 
species exhibit some level of genetic population structure (Buonaccorsi 
et al., 2002, 2005; Cope, 2004; Rocha-Olivares and Vetter, 1999). One 
of the petitioned species, bocaccio, also exhibits genetic population 
structure on the open coast (Matala et al., 2004), and it is reasonable 
to assume the it would also show some genetic isolation within Puget 
Sound relative to other areas (Varanasi, 2007). Genetic studies that 
include samples from Puget Sound have found that rockfish populations 
in Puget Sound are generally distinct from populations sampled in other 
geographic areas (Buonaccorsi et al., 2002, 2005). Based on the above 
information, we find that the new petition presents substantial 
scientific information indicating that the five petitioned DPSs may 
satisfy the ``discreteness'' criterion under the joint DPS policy 
(Varanasi, 2007).
    However, ``discreteness'' does not necessarily indicate that a 
population group may also be ``significant'' and hence a DPS for 
listing consideration. As noted above, the petitioner contends that the 
5 petitioned rockfish species are likely DPSs based on our 2001 DPS 
delineations for brown, copper, and quillback rockfishes in Puget Sound 
(Stout et al., 2001). These three ``discrete'' population segments were 
found to be ``significant'' under the DPS policy because the 
environmental, geological, and biogeographic characteristics of Puget 
Sound represent ``an ecological setting that is unusual or unique for 
the taxon.'' These characteristics unique to the Puget Sound are 
reflected in likely adaptive life-history differences (e.g., coloration 
patterns, mating behaviors, or timing of reproduction) for the 
respective species in Puget Sound relative to elsewhere in their range 
(Stout et al., 2001). These same characteristics that established the 
uniqueness of the Puget Sound ecosystem also apply to the 5 petitioned 
rockfish species in Puget Sound (Varanasi, 2007). It is likely that 
``discrete'' population segments for the 5 species would be 
``significant'' under the DPS policy as Puget Sound represents an 
ecological setting that is unusual or unique for the taxon. We find 
that the new petition presents substantial scientific information 
indicating that the five petitioned rockfish species in Puget Sound may 
satisfy the ``significance'' criterion under the joint DPS policy, and 
thus may warrant delineation as DPSs for listing consideration under 
the ESA.

[[Page 14199]]

Information Regarding the Extinction Risk of the Five Rockfish Species 
in Puget Sound

    The petitioner stresses the importance of age structure, longevity, 
and the maternal-age effect in evaluating the extinction risk of 
rockfish populations. (The reader is referred to our earlier petition 
finding (72 FR 2865; January 23, 2007) for further discussion of the 
maternal-age effect and related scientific publications.) The 
importance of this maternal-age effect in the wild depends upon the age 
structure and age-at-maturity of the specific populations under 
consideration (72 FR 2865; January, 23, 2007). However, the necessary 
data are not available to evaluate the actual importance of the 
maternal-age effect for the five recently petitioned rockfish species.
    The April 2007 petition provides recreational catch data for the 
five petitioned species spanning approximately 12 years from the mid-
1970s to mid-1990s. These data suggest possible declines for three of 
the species (bocaccio, greenstripe, and red stripe rockfishes) and no 
decline for the other two species (canary and yelloweye rockfish). In 
our October 2007 finding we noted that the support for making any 
inferences regarding population status was weak, given that the 
petition did not include information regarding the level or 
distribution of fishery effort, changes in fisheries practices, or 
changes in regulations governing fisheries in which the petitioned 
species are taken as bycatch (72 FR 56986; October 5, 2007). We 
concluded that without this additional information it was not possible 
to determine whether the recreational catch data reflect population 
status. We concluded that the recreational catch and other anecdotal 
information in the petition do not represent ``substantial scientific 
or commercial'' information that would lead a reasonable person to 
believe that the status of the petitioned species may be at risk.
    In his October 29, 2007, letter the petitioner presents 
supplemental information necessary for determining whether the 
recreational catch data provided in the April 2007 petition are valid 
reflections of population status for the petitioned species. 
Specifically, the petitioner provides the information regarding fishery 
effort, changes in fisheries practices, and changes in fishery 
regulations that we found lacking in the April 2007 petition.
    The petitioner explains that there are three possible explanations 
that might account for a decline in the recreational catch data: (1) 
That there was a change in the distribution of fishery effort or a 
change in the distribution of the petitioned species; (2) that there 
was a change in angler behavior or fishery regulations resulting in 
decline in overall fishery effort; or (3) that the recreational catch 
data indeed reflect declining trends in the species' abundance. The 
petitioner notes that the petitioned species are non-migratory, so a 
change in the stocks' distribution is not a valid explanation for the 
observed declining trends in catch for bocaccio, redstripe rockfish and 
greenstripe rockfish. Moreover, there is no information to suggest that 
the spatial distribution of fishery effort changed appreciably over the 
time period to explain the observed trends in the recreational catch 
data. The petitioner also concludes that the observed trends are not 
explainable by declining fishery effort due to changes in angler 
behavior or fishery regulations.
    During the 12-year period for which there is recreational fishery 
data, anglers began to directly target rockfish species to compensate 
for the reduced availability of salmonids for harvest, and anglers were 
also able to target rockfish aggregations more efficiently and at much 
greater depths due to rapid advances in fish-finding technology. The 
petitioner concludes that these changes in angler effort and of 
rockfish harvest should have led to an increase in total catch. Given 
this expectation, the petitioner is particularly concerned that 
observed declines in the catch data for bocaccio, redstripe rockfish, 
and greenstripe rockfish likely reflect severe declines in the 
abundance of these stocks. The petitioner further suspects that the 
increasing fishery effort and efficiency likely masked declining trends 
in abundance for canary rockfish and yelloweye rockfish stocks. In 
support of his qualitative inferences from changes in angler behavior 
and efficiency, the petitioner provides data for overall fishery effort 
(measured in the number of angler boat trips) and catch per unit effort 
over the 12-year period of recreational catch data. Over this period 
the number of angler trips increased substantially, and there was a 
decline in the average number of rockfish caught per trip (Palsson et 
al., 1997; Palsson and Pacunski, 1998; West, 1997).
    The fishery effort and catch per unit effort data support the 
petitioner's conclusions that the recreational catch data reflect 
severe declines in stock abundance for bocaccio, redstripe rockfish, 
and greenstripe rockfish, and that increasing fishery effort and 
efficiency over the time period likely masked declines in stock 
abundance for canary rockfish and yelloweye rockfish. Finally, the 
petitioner concludes that the observed declining trends in the 
recreational catch data cannot be explained by a reduction in catch due 
to changing fishery regulations. Changes in rockfish catch regulations 
(e.g., reductions in the daily bag limit) and large scale closures in 
salmonid fisheries in which rockfish are taken as bycatch did not occur 
until 1994, well after the period covered by the recreational catch 
data (1975-1986). Based on the supplemental information, the petitioner 
concludes that the most parsimonious explanation for the observed 
trends in the recreational catch data is that they reflect actual 
declines in the abundance of the five petitioned species in Puget 
Sound.

Petition Finding

    After reviewing the information contained in the April 2007 
petition, the supplemental information contained in the petitioner's 
October 2007 letter, and other information readily available in our 
files, we determine that the new petition presents substantial 
scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned actions 
may be warranted. In accordance with section 4(b)(3)(B) of the ESA and 
NMFS' implementing regulations (50 CFR 424.14(b)(2)), we will commence 
a review of the status of the five species concerned and make a 
determination within 12 months of receiving the new petition (i.e., by 
October 29, 2008) whether the petitioned action is warranted.

Information Solicited

DPS Structure and Extinction Risk

    To ensure that the updated status review is complete and based on 
the best available and most recent scientific and commercial data, we 
solicit data, information, and comments (see DATES and ADDRESSES) 
concerning the status of bocaccio, canary rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, 
greenstripe rockfish, and redstripe rockfish. We solicit pertinent 
information such as: (1) biological or other data pertinent to 
determining the DPS structure of these 5 rockfish species (e.g., age 
structure, genetics, migratory patterns, morphology, physiology); (2) 
historical trends and current abundance and distribution of these 
rockfish stocks in Puget Sound; (3) natural and human-influenced 
factors that cause variability in their survival, distribution, and 
abundance; and (4) current or planned activities and their possible 
impact on these rockfish species (e.g., harvest measures and habitat 
actions).

[[Page 14200]]

Efforts Being Made to Protect Puget Sound Rockfish

    Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA requires the Secretary to make 
listing determinations solely on the basis of the best scientific and 
commercial data available after conducting a review of the status of a 
species and after taking into account efforts being made to protect the 
species. Therefore, in making its listing determinations, we first 
assess the status of the species and identify factors that have led to 
the decline. We then assess conservation measures to determine whether 
they ameliorate a species' extinction risk (50 CFR 424.11(f)). In 
judging the efficacy of conservation efforts, NMFS considers the 
following: the substantive, protective, and conservation elements of 
such efforts; the degree of certainty that such efforts will reliably 
be implemented, and the degree of certainty that such efforts will be 
effective in furthering the conservation of the species (68 FR 15100, 
March 28, 2003); and the presence of monitoring provisions that track 
the effectiveness of recovery efforts, and that inform iterative 
refinement to management as information is accrued. In some cases, 
conservation efforts may be relatively new or may not have had 
sufficient time to demonstrate their biological benefit. In such cases, 
provisions of adequate monitoring and funding for conservation efforts 
are essential to ensure that the intended conservation benefits are 
realized. We also encourage all parties to submit information on 
ongoing efforts to protect these 5 rockfish stocks in Washington, as 
well as information on recently implemented or planned activities and 
their likely impact(s).

References Cited

    A complete list of all references is available upon request from 
the Protected Resources Division of the NMFS Northwest Regional Office 
(see ADDRESSES).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: March 11, 2008.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5309 Filed 3-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S