Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat: Notice of Finding on a Petition To List the Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis perotteti) as an Endangered or Threatened Species Under the Endangered Species Act, 37671-37674 [E9-18079]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 29, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37671-37674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18079]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223 and 224

[Docket No. 0906221082-91083-01]
RIN 0648-XQ03


Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating 
Critical Habitat: Notice of Finding on a Petition To List the 
Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis perotteti) as an 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: We, NMFS, announce a 90 day finding on a petition to list 
largetooth sawfish (Pristis perotteti) as endangered or threatened 
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition 
presents substantial scientific and commercial information indicating 
the petitioned action may be warranted. We will conduct a status review 
of largetooth sawfish to determine if the petitioned action is 
warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are 
soliciting scientific and commercial data regarding this species (see 
below).

DATES: Information and comments on the subject action must be received 
by September 28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the code 0648-XQ03, 
addressed to: Shelley Norton, Natural Resource Specialist, by any of 
the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov
     Facsimile (fax): 727-824-5309
     Mail: NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue 
South, St Petersburg, FL 33701
     Hand delivery: You may hand deliver written comments to 
our office 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 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 (enter N/A 
in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to 
electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, Corel 
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Shelley Norton, NMFS, Southeast 
Region, (727) 824-5312; or Sean Ledwin, NMFS, Office of Protected 
Resources, (301) 713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 24th, 2009, we received a petition from WildEarth 
Guardians requesting that the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) list 
largetooth sawfish (P. perotteti) as endangered or threatened 
throughout its range and designate critical habitat concurrent with 
listing. We identified largetooth sawfish as a candidate species under 
the ESA on June 23, 1999 (64 FR 33466). On November 30, 1999, we 
received a petition from the Center for Marine Conservation (now the 
Ocean Conservancy) requesting that we list the North American 
populations of largetooth and smalltooth sawfish (P. pectinata) as 
endangered. On March 10, 2000 (65 FR 12959), we found that there was 
not substantial evidence to warrant initiation of a status review of 
North American populations of largetooth sawfish, on the basis that the 
petition did not contain substantial scientific or commercial 
information to indicate the present existence of such a population 
eligible for listing. WildEarth Guardians' current petition also 
requests that the Secretary re-examine and reverse the March 10, 2000, 
negative 90-day finding to list the North American population of 
largetooth sawfish as endangered. We will consider the petitioner's 
request as a request to consider a North American Distinct Population 
Segment (DPS), should we determine that a 90-day ``may be warranted'' 
finding regarding the species throughout its range is not warranted.

ESA Statutory Provisions and Policy Considerations

    Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)(A)) requires 
that we make a finding as to whether a petition to list, delist, or 
reclassify a species ``presents substantial scientific or commercial 
information indicating the petitioned action may be warranted.'' ESA 
implementing regulations define substantial information as the ``amount

[[Page 37672]]

of information that would lead a reasonable person to believe the 
measure proposed in the petition may be warranted'' (50 CFR 
424.14(b)(1)). In determining whether substantial information exists to 
support a petition to list a species, we take into account several 
factors, including information submitted with, and referenced in, the 
petition and all other information readily available in our files. To 
the maximum extent practicable, this finding is to be made within 90 
days of the receipt of the petition (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)(A)), and the 
finding is to be published promptly in the Federal Register. If we find 
that a petition presents substantial information indicating that the 
requested action may be warranted, section 4 (b)(3)(A) of the ESA 
requires that the Secretary conduct a status review of the species. 
Section 4 (b)(3)(B) requires the Secretary to make a finding as to 
whether or not the petitioned action is warranted within 12 months of 
the receipt of the petition. The Secretary has delegated the authority 
for these actions to the NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries. 
Under the ESA, a listing determination can address a species, 
subspecies, or a DPS of a vertebrate species (16 U.S.C. 1532 (16)). In 
1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NMFS published the Policy 
on the Recognition of a Distinct Vertebrate Population Segments under 
the Endangered Species Act (61 FR 4722; February 7, 1996).
    The ESA defines an endangered species as ''any species which is in 
danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its 
range'' (ESA Section 3(6)). A threatened species is defined as a 
species that is ''likely to become an endangered species within the 
foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its 
range'' (ESA Section 3(19)). Under section 4(a)(1) of the ESA, a 
species may be determined to be threatened or endangered as a result of 
any one of the following factors: (1) present or threatened 
destruction, modification, or curtailment of habitat or range; (2) 
over-utilization 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 its continued existence. Listing determinations are made 
solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data 
available, after conducting a review of the status of the species and 
taking into account efforts made by any state or foreign nation to 
protect such species.

Distribution and Life History of Largetooth Sawfish

    Largetooth sawfish historically inhabited warm temperate to 
tropical marine waters in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and eastern Pacific. 
In the western Atlantic the species occurred from the Caribbean and 
Gulf of Mexico south through Brazil. In the United States, largetooth 
sawfish were reported in the Gulf of Mexico mainly along the Texas 
coast and east into Florida waters (Burgess and Curtis, 2003). In the 
eastern Atlantic largetooth sawfish historically occurred from Spain 
through Angola. The eastern Pacific historic range of the species was 
from Mazatlan, Mexico to Guayaquil, Ecuador (Cook et al., 2005) or 
possibly Tumbes, Peru (Chirichigo and Cornejo, 2001).
    Largetooth and smalltooth sawfish occur in many of the same areas 
in the Atlantic and may be morphologically distinguished from each 
other by the number of pairs of rostral teeth, the placement of the 
pectoral fins relative to the pelvic fins, and the shape of their 
caudal fin (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953). Despite these differences 
there were problems differentiating the species in a few early 
accounts, so some records of distribution and abundance are uncertain. 
To confuse matters further, the current species P. perotteti has been 
variously referred to in the literature over part or all of its range 
as P. antiquorum (Visschen, 1919; as cited in Bigelow and Schroeder, 
1953), P. zephyreus (Beebe and Tee-Van, 1941; Compango and Last, 1999), 
P. pristis (McEachran and Fechhelm, 1998), or P. microdon (Garman, 
1913; Fowler, 1941; Compango and Last, 1999; Chirichigo and Cornejo, 
2001; Vakily et al., 2002). Pristis microdon is still considered valid 
taxa; some authors consider the eastern Pacific populations to be part 
of the species P. microdon (Garman, 1913; Fowler, 1941; Chirichigo and 
Cornejo, 2001) while others consider the eastern Pacific populations to 
be P. perotteti (Jordan and Evermann, 1896; refs. in Beebe and Tee-Van, 
1941; Compagno and Cook, 1995; Camhi et al., 1998; Cook et al., 2005). 
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ``Red 
List'' notes the controversy, but bases its assessment only on the 
Atlantic populations (Charvet-Almeida et al., 2007). We tentatively 
regard the eastern Pacific populations as being included in P. 
perotteti for the purposes of this analysis. The taxonomic 
relationships of largetooth sawfish and related sawfishes clearly need 
further examination (Compagno and Cook, 1995; Cook et al., 2005; 
Wueringer et al., 2009).
    Largetooth sawfish are thought to presently occur in freshwater 
habitats in Central and South America and Africa. In Atlantic 
drainages, largetooth sawtooth have been found in freshwater at least 
833 miles (1,340 km) from the ocean in the Amazon River system 
(Manacapuru, Brazil), as well as in Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan 
River and other east coast Nicaraguan rivers; the Rio Coco, on the 
border of Nicaragua and Honduras; Rio Patuca, Honduras; Lago de Izabal, 
Rio Motagua, and Rio Dulce, Guatemala; the Belize River, Belize; 
Mexican streams that flow into the Gulf of Mexico; Las Lagunas Del 
Tortuguero, Rio Parismina, Rio Pacuare, and Rio Matina, Costa Rica; Rio 
San Juan and the Magdalena River, Columbia; the Falm River in Mali and 
Senegal; the Saloum River, Senegal; coastal rivers in Gambia; and the 
Geba River, Guinea-Bissau (Thorson, 1974; 1982b; Castro-Augiree, 1978 
as cited in Thorson, 1982b; Compagno and Cook, 1995; C. Scharpf and M. 
McDavitt, pers. comm., as cited in Cook et al., 2005). In the eastern 
Pacific the species has been reported in freshwater in the Tuyra, 
Culebra, Tilapa, Chucunaque, Bayeno, and Rio Sambu Rivers, and at the 
Balboa and Miraflores locks in the Panama Canal, Panama; Rio San Juan, 
Columbia; and in the Rio Goascoran, along the border of El Salvador and 
Honduras (Boulenger, 1909; Fowler, 1936; 1941; Beebe and Tee-Van, 1941; 
Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953; Gunter, 1957; Thorson et al., 1966; Dahl, 
1971; Thorson, 1974; 1976; 1980; 1982a; 1982b, 1987; Vasquez-Montoya 
and Thorson 1982a, 1982b; Daget, 1984; Compagno and Cook, 1995; all as 
cited in Cook et al., 2005).
    Largetooth sawfish, like other members of their family, are 
characterized by a toothy snout projecting well forward of the head and 
mouth. Approximately 2.5 ft (0.76m) long at birth, largetooth sawfish 
can reach lengths of up to 21.3 feet (6.5m) and weights of up to 1300 
pounds (600 kg) (Thorson, 1976). Studies of largetooth sawfish in Lake 
Nicaragua report litter sizes of 1 to 13 individuals, with an average 
of 7.3 individuals (Thorson, 1976). The gestation period for largetooth 
sawfish is approximately 5 months, and females likely produce litters 
every second year. Given that largetooth sawfish are long lived, slow 
growing, late maturing, ovoviviparous, and produce few young, the 
species has a very low intrinsic rate of increase. Simpfendorfer (2000) 
estimated the intrinsic rate of increase for largetooth sawfish was 
from 0.05 to 0.07 per year, and population doubling time was

[[Page 37673]]

between 10.3 and 13.6 years. Musick et al. (2000) noted that intrinsic 
rates of increase less than ten percent (0.1) were low and make a 
species particularly vulnerable to excessive mortalities and rapid 
population declines, after which recovery may take decades.
    Largetooth sawfish are generally restricted to shallow (<33 feet or 
10 m) coastal, estuarine, and fresh waters, although they have been 
found at depths of up to 400 ft (122 m) in Lake Nicaragua. Largetooth 
sawfish are often found in brackish water near river mouths and large 
embayments, preferring partially enclosed waters, lying in deeper holes 
and on bottoms of mud or muddy sand (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953). 
While it is thought that they spend most of their time on the bottom, 
they are commonly observed swimming near the surface in the wild and in 
aquaria (Cook et al., 2005). Largetooth sawfish move among salinity 
gradients freely and appear to have more physiological tolerance of 
freshwater than smalltooth sawfish (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953; Dahl, 
1971; Thorson, 1974; 1976; all as cited in Thorson, 1982b). The rostral 
``saw'' is used in feeding to stir up prey items in the benthos and may 
be used to stun schooling fish.

Analysis of Petition

    We evaluated the information referenced in the petition and all 
other information readily available in our files to determine if the 
petition presents substantial scientific and/or commercial information 
indicating that the species may be ``threatened'' or ``endangered'' 
throughout all or a significant portion of their range. The current 
petition differs from the 1999 petition by seeking the listing of the 
entire species wherever it is found. The petition resubmits biological, 
distributional, and historical information from the 1999 petition and 
2000 finding and provides additional information including the 
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ``Red List'' 
assessment (Charvet-Almeida et al., 2007), reports on the Brazilian 
population (Menni and Stehmann, 2000; Charvet-Almeida, 2002), a report 
on the international sawfish trade (McDavitt and Charvet-Almeida, 
2004), and a summary paper on the global population of largetooth 
sawfish (Cook et al., 2005). The petition also addresses the five 
factors in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA as they pertain to listing of the 
species. The petitioner stresses information related to range 
contraction and local extirpations, declines in abundance, and specific 
details about threats to the species. We summarize our analysis 
regarding specific factors affecting the species' risk of extinction 
below.

Range Contraction

    There is evidence from throughout the species range that largetooth 
sawfish have been extirpated and/or no longer occur in some locations. 
These locations include the U. S. portion of the Gulf of Mexico and the 
southeastern coast of Brazil (Menni and Stehmann, 2000). The last known 
U.S. sightings were in 1941 in Florida and 1943 in Texas (Burgess and 
Curtis, 2003). In addition, the IUCN considers populations in Benin, 
Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Gibraltar, Guinea, Mali, 
Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Spain, Togo, Western Sahara, and the U. 
S. as ``possibly extinct'' (i.e., locally extirpated) (Charvet-Almeida 
et al., 2007). The IUCN provides contradictory information on whether 
largetooth sawfish currently occur in Angola, The Democratic Republic 
of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone 
(Charvet-Almeida et al., 2007).

Declines in Abundance

    Quantitative data on largetooth sawfish population trends are 
lacking in the petition and our files. The best available information 
from scientific reports and anecdotal information from fisherpeople and 
others suggests large declines in abundance have occurred on the north 
coast of Brazil (Charvet-Almeida, 2002) and in other areas where the 
species still occurs (Charvet-Almeida et al., 2007). Thorson's detailed 
studies (Thorson, 1976; 1982a; 1982b; 1987) document significant 
declines of largetooth sawfish in Lake Nicaragua, and others report 
that these low abundance levels continue (Tanaka, 1994; McDavitt, 
2002). The IUCN reports ongoing declines in artisanal and commercial 
landings (Charvet-Almeida et al., 2007), but they provide no direct 
citations or data. Based on the local extirpations and declines in 
abundance the IUCN has placed largetooth sawfish on the IUCN ``Red 
List'' as ``critically endangered'' in the Atlantic (Charvet-Almeida et 
al., 2007).

Population Structure

    There is little information in the petition or our files related to 
genetic, morphological, or other population structure differences 
within the species beyond the unique freshwater population of Lake 
Nicaragua discussed above.

Threats

    The petitioner believes the most immediate threat to the species is 
the reduction in abundance and density caused by overharvest and 
bycatch. Direct and incidental commercial catch and artisanal and 
recreational fisheries occur throughout the species' range (Thorson, 
1987; Taniuchi, 1992; Tanaka, 1994; Camhi et al., 1998; Charvet-
Almeida, 2002). The species is valued for its flesh, fins that are used 
in the ``shark'' fin trade, skins that are used for leather, the live 
aquarium trade, the curio value of the rostral saw, and the rostral 
teeth, which are used for a variety of purposes including as spurs for 
roosters used in cockfighting (Charvet-Almeida, 2002; McDavitt and 
Charvet-Almeida, 2004; Cook et al., 2005). These values have created an 
international market for sawfish products (McDavitt and Charvet-
Almeida, 2004); however largetooth sawfish were added to Appendix I of 
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in 2007. On 
his initial visits to Lake Nicaragua, Thorson (pers. comm.; as cited in 
Cook et al., 2005) noted large catches of largetooth sawfish. Direct 
fisheries in Lake Nicaragua removed an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 
sawfishes between 1970 and 1975 (Thorson, 1976); sawfish are now 
extremely rare in the lake (Thorson, 1987; Tanaka, 1994; McDavitt, 
2002). In Brazil, largetooth sawfish extirpation from the southeastern 
coast and decline on the north coast is attributed to direct fisheries 
that continue today (Charvet-Almeida, 2002).
    Habitat degradation and loss are also likely contributors to the 
species' decline. Specific threats to largetooth sawfish habitat 
include destruction of mangrove forests and coastal development 
throughout its range (Charvet-Almeida et al., 2007). The petitioner 
also identified weak or non-existent regulatory or management 
mechanisms throughout the species range.

Petition Finding

    After reviewing the information submitted with, and referenced in, 
the petition and all other information readily available in our files, 
the evidence suggests that largetooth sawfish have undergone severe 
range contractions and local extirpations in their distribution at both 
the northern and southern extremes of their range; have experienced 
severe population declines in areas where they still exist; and are 
subject to ongoing threats of overharvest, habitat loss and 
degradation, and inadequate management and/or regulation in many parts 
of their range. Therefore, we determine that the petition presents 
substantial scientific or commercial

[[Page 37674]]

information indicating the petitioned action may be warranted with 
respect to the species throughout its entire range. 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 
species and make a determination within 12 months of receiving the 
petition (i.e., April 24, 2010) as to whether the petitioned action is 
warranted. If warranted, we will publish a proposed rule and solicit 
public comments before developing and publishing a final rule.

Information Solicited

    To ensure the status review is based on the best available 
scientific and commercial data, we are soliciting information on 
whether largetooth sawfish are endangered or threatened. Specifically, 
we are soliciting information in the following areas: (1) historical 
and current distribution and abundance of this species throughout its 
range; (2) historical and current population trends; (3) information on 
life history in marine environments, (4) curio, meat, ``shark'' fin or 
other trade data; (5) information related to taxonomy of the species 
and closely related forms (e.g., P. microdon); (6) information on any 
current or planned activities that may adversely impact the species; 
(7) ongoing efforts to protect and restore the species and its habitat; 
and (8) information identifying a North American Distinct Population 
Segment. We request that all information be accompanied by: (1) 
supporting documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or 
reprints of pertinent publications; and (2) the submitter's name, 
address, and any association, institution, or business that the person 
represents.

Critical Habitat

    The petitioner also requested that we designate critical habitat 
concurrently with listing the species as threatened or endangered. 
Under our regulations for designating critical habitat, we are only 
able to designate critical habitat within areas of U.S. jurisdiction 
(50 CFR 424.12). Critical habitat is defined in the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) as:
    ``(i) the specific areas within the geographical area currently 
occupied by the species, at the time it is listed... on which are found 
those physical or biological features (I) essential to the conservation 
of the species and (II) which may require special management 
considerations or protection; and (ii) specific areas outside the 
geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed upon 
a determination by the Secretary that such areas are essential for the 
conservation of the species.''
    Our implementing regulations (50 CFR 424.12) describe those 
essential physical and biological features to include: (1) space for 
individual and population growth, and normal behavior; (2) food, water, 
air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or physiological 
requirements; (3) cover or shelter; (4) sites for breeding, 
reproduction, rearing of offspring; and (5) habitats that are protected 
from disturbance or are representative of the historic geographical and 
ecological distribution of a species. We are required to focus on the 
primary constituent elements (PCEs) which best represent the principal 
biological or physical features. PCEs may include: spawning sites, 
feeding sites, water quality and quantity. Our implementing regulations 
(50 CFR 424.02) define ``special management considerations or 
protection'' as ``any methods or procedures useful in protecting 
physical and biological features of the environment for the 
conservation of listed species.''
    Section 4(b)(2) of the ESA requires us to designate critical 
habitat for listed species based on the best scientific data available 
and after taking into consideration the economic impact, the impact on 
national security, and any other relevant impact, of specifying any 
particular area as critical habitat. The Secretary may exclude any 
particular area from critical habitat if he determines that the 
benefits of such exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying such 
area as part of the critical habitat, unless he determines that the 
failure to designate such area as critical habitat will result in the 
extinction of the species concerned.
    To ensure that our review of critical habitat is complete and based 
on the best available data, we solicit information and comments on 
whether the petitioned area in U.S. waters including the Exclusive 
Economic Zone, or some subset thereof, qualifies as critical habitat. 
Areas that include the physical and biological features essential to 
the conservation of the species and that may require special management 
considerations or protection should be identified. Essential features 
include, but are not limited to, space for individual growth and for 
normal behavior, food, water, air, light, minerals, or other 
nutritional or physiological requirements, cover or shelter, sites for 
reproduction and development of offspring, and habitats that are 
protected from disturbance or are representative of the historical, 
geographical, and ecological distributions of the species (50 CFR 
424.12).

Peer Review

    On July 1, 1994, NMFS, jointly with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, published a series of policies regarding listings under the 
ESA, including a policy for peer review of scientific data (59 FR 
34270). The intent of the peer review policy is to ensure listings are 
based on the best scientific and commercial data available. We are 
soliciting the names of recognized experts in the field who could take 
part in the peer review process for this status review.
    Independent peer reviewers will be selected from the academic and 
scientific community, tribal and other Native American groups, Federal 
and state agencies, the private sector, and public interest groups.

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

    Dated: July 24, 2009.
James W. Balsiger,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-18079 Filed 7-28-09; 8:45 am]
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