Presidential Task Force on Combating Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud Action Plan, 66867-66879 [2015-27780]
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BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE285
Presidential Task Force on Combating
Illegal Unreported and Unregulated
(IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud
Action Plan
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
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Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Determination.
The National Ocean Council
Committee on IUU Fishing and Seafood
Fraud (NOC Committee) has finalized
principles for determining seafood
species at risk of IUU fishing and
seafood fraud (at-risk species) and a list
of at-risk species developed using the
principles.
SUMMARY:
List of principles and at-risk
species is final upon October 30, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Danielle Rioux, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service (phone 301–427–8516, or email
Danielle.Rioux@noaa.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: According
to NOAA statistics, in 2013, U.S. fishers
landed 9.9 billion pounds of fish and
shellfish worth $5.5 billion. Illegal,
unreported, and unregulated (IUU)
fishing and seafood fraud undermine
the sustainability of U.S. and global
seafood stocks and negatively impact
general ecosystem health. At the same
time, IUU fishing and fraudulent
seafood products distort legal markets
and unfairly compete with the products
of law-abiding fishers and seafood
industries globally. On March 15, 2015,
the Presidential Task Force on
Combating IUU Fishing and Seafood
Fraud (Task Force), co-chaired by the
Departments of Commerce and State,
took an historic step to address these
issues and published its Action Plan for
Implementing Task Force
Recommendations (Action Plan).
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The Action Plan
(https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/iuu/
noaa_taskforce_report_final.pdf)
articulates the proactive steps that
Federal agencies will take to implement
the recommendations the Task Force
made to the President in December 2014
on a comprehensive framework of
integrated programs to combat IUU
fishing and seafood fraud. The Action
Plan identifies actions that will
strengthen enforcement, create and
expand partnerships with state and
local governments, industry, and nongovernmental organizations, and create
a risk-based traceability program to
track seafood from harvest to entry into
U.S. commerce, including through the
use of existing traceability mechanisms.
The scope of action anticipated through
the Action Plan approaches IUU and
fraudulently-labeled seafood at the Flag
State, Port State, and Market State
levels. The work the Task Force began
continues under the oversight of the
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NOC Committee, established in April
2015.
This final notice is one of several
steps in the plan to implement Task
Force Recommendations 14 and 15,
identifying ‘‘species of fish or seafood
that are presently of particular concern
because they are currently subject to
significant seafood fraud or because
they are at significant risk of being
caught by IUU fishing.’’ To begin
implementing these recommendations,
the NOC Committee created a Working
Group (Working Group), led by NOAA
and composed of members from partner
agencies: Department of State, Food and
Drug Administration, Department of
Homeland Security, Customs and
Border Protection, and the Office of the
U.S. Trade Representative.
As the first step, the NOC Committee,
through the Working Group, solicited
public input through a Federal Register
notice (80 FR 24246, April 30, 2015) on
what principles should be used to
determine the seafood species at risk of
IUU fishing or seafood fraud. Public
input was received both in writing and
through webinars. Taking into
consideration comments received, the
Working Group developed draft
principles and a draft list of at-risk
species based on those principles. These
principles and the draft list were then
published in a Federal Register notice
(80 FR 45955, August 3, 2015) to solicit
additional public comment. This public
comment period was extended through
Federal Register notice (80 FR 50270,
August 19, 2015) until September 11,
2015. The Working Group considered
public input received during the public
comment period and developed final
principles to determine seafood species
at risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud
and a final recommended list of at risk
species.
This publication is the NOC
Committee’s transmission of the list of
species at risk of IUU fishing and
seafood fraud to the agencies charged
with implementing the Task Force
recommendations for appropriate
action, as requested in the Action Plan,
as well as notification to the public. The
list does not impose any legal
requirements, but will inform the first
phase of the risk-based seafood
traceability program, as described in the
Action Plan. The traceability program
itself will be developed through noticeand-comment rulemaking, pursuant to
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, and
that rulemaking will address data
requirements, the design of the program,
and the species to which the first phase
of the program will be applied.
Implementation and enforcement of the
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traceability program may require
engagement of additional U.S. agencies.
Principles for Determining Species at
Risk of IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud
To develop principles, the Working
Group considered public comments
received through both public comment
periods. The Working Group evaluated
the strength and utility of various
principles as indicators for potential
risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud as
well as their measurability and the
robustness of data available to assess
them. The Working Group minimized
overlap of principles to ensure that a
species’ alignment with several
principles does not overstate associated
risk, and also to distinguish between
risk of IUU fishing and risk of seafood
fraud. The Working Group then applied
the principles to a base list of species to
develop the list of species at risk of IUU
fishing or seafood fraud.
Based on the Working Group’s
evaluation and synthesis of comments
received through both public comment
periods, the final principles are listed
below. Species and species groups were
evaluated using these principles:
• Enforcement Capability: The
existence and effectiveness of
enforcement capability of the United
States and other countries, which
includes both the existing legal
authority to enforce fisheries
management laws and regulations and
the capacity (e.g., resources,
infrastructure, etc.) to enforce those
laws and regulations throughout the
geographic range of fishing activity for
a species.
• Catch Documentation Scheme: The
existence of a catch documentation
scheme throughout the geographic range
of fishing activity for a species, and the
effectiveness of that scheme if it exists,
including whether a lack of proper
documentation leads to discrepancies
between total allowable catch and trade
volume of a species.
• Complexity of the Chain of Custody
and Processing: Consideration of
transparency of chain-of-custody for a
species, such as the level of
transshipment (in this context, the
transfer of fish from one vessel to
another, either at sea or in port) for a
species, as well as the complexity of the
supply chain and extent of processing
(e.g., fish that goes across multiple
country borders or fish that is
commonly exported for processing or
that is sold as fillet block vs. whole fish)
as it pertains to comingling of species or
catch.
• Species Misrepresentation: The
history of known misrepresentation of a
species related to substitution with
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another species, focused on mislabeling
or other forms of misrepresentation of
seafood products.
• Mislabeling or Other
Misrepresentation: The history of
known misrepresentation of information
other than mislabeling related to species
identification (e.g., customs
misclassification or misrepresentation
related to country of origin, whether
product is wild vs. aquaculture, or
product weight).
• History of Violations: The history of
violations of fisheries laws and
regulations in the United States and
abroad for a species, particularly those
related to IUU fishing.
• Human Health Risks: History of
mislabeling, other forms of
misrepresentation, or species
substitution leading to human health
concerns for consumers, including in
particular, incidents when
misrepresentation of product introduced
human health concerns due to different
production, harvest or handling
standards, or when higher levels of
harmful pathogens or other toxins were
introduced directly from the substituted
species.
Application of Principles
Given the large number of seafood
species that are domestically landed or
imported, the Working Group created a
base list of species for evaluation using
several factors: (1) The value of
domestic landings and imports (all
seafood species with an imported or
domestically-landed value over $100
million USD in 2014 were included on
the base list); (2) species identified by
the Working Group due to a high cost
of product per pound (which could
increase the incentive for IUU fishing
and fraud); and (3) species proposed
based on the expertise of representatives
from the Working Group agencies. In
some cases, the Working Group
combined related species together in its
analysis (e.g., shrimp), because the
supporting data utilized nomenclature
which made further analytical breakouts
unworkable. In other cases, the working
group was able to target species within
larger species groups (e.g. red snapper),
based on commercial and marketplace
significance.
The Working Group determined that
data from the past five years was the
appropriate timeframe for decisionmaking because a longer timeframe
might not reflect improvements that
have been made in some fisheries over
time and a shorter timeframe might not
include sufficient data to identify risks
to certain species.
The resulting list of species and
groups analyzed by applying the
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principles listed above is set forth
below. Note that this list is not the list
of at-risk species to which the first
phase of the traceability program will be
applied:
Abalone; Billfish (Marlins,
Spearfishes, and Sailfishes); Catfish
(Ictaluridae); Cod, Atlantic; Cod, Pacific;
Crab, Blue; Crab, Dungeness; Crab, King;
Crab, Snow; Dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi);
Oyster; Grouper; Haddock; Halibut,
Atlantic; Halibut, Pacific; Lake or
Yellow Perch; Lobster; Mackerel;
Menhaden; Opah; Orange Roughy; Red
Drum; Red Snapper; Sablefish; Salmon,
Atlantic; Salmon, Chinook; Salmon,
Chum; Salmon, Coho; Salmon, Pink;
Salmon, Sockeye; Scallop; Sea bass; Sea
cucumber; Shrimp; Sharks; Sole; Squid;
Sturgeon caviar; Swordfish; Tilapia;
Toothfish; Tunas (Albacore, Bigeye,
Bluefin, Skipjack, Yellowfin); Wahoo;
Walleye (Alaskan) Pollock; Pacific
Whiting.
Based on public comments received
on the draft list of at-risk species, the
following eight additional species/
species groups were also analyzed
according to the principles described
above: Anchovies; Eels; Flounder
(Southern and Summer); Octopus;
Queen Conch; Weakfish; Skates and
Rays.
Both imported and domesticallylanded species were evaluated using the
same principles, data sources and
methodology, as described below.
Principles were not weighted and were
evaluated evenly. Additionally, the
Working Group considered the
interaction of principles to be
important. For example, the interaction
between the enforcement capability, and
history of violations was important
when evaluating species. The presence
or absence of one principle (e.g., catch
documentation scheme) was not
determinative in making the at-risk
assessment.
The following Federal agency offices
contributed to the analysis of the list of
species: the Office of Marine
Conservation, Bureau of Oceans and
International Environmental Affairs,
Department of State; Office of the Under
Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy,
and Environment, Department of State;
Office of International Affairs and
Seafood Inspection, National Marine
Fisheries Service, NOAA, Department of
Commerce; Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service, NOAA, Department of
Commerce; Office of Science and
Technology, National Marine Fisheries
Service, NOAA, Department of
Commerce; Office of Law Enforcement,
National Marine Fisheries Service,
NOAA, Department of Commerce;
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Office of General Counsel, Enforcement
Section, NOAA, Department of
Commerce; and Office of General
Counsel, Fisheries and Protected
Resources Section, NOAA, Department
of Commerce; U.S. Customs and Border
Protection; U.S. Department of
Homeland Security; Division of
Seafood, Office of Food Safety, Food
and Drug Administration; Office of
Analytics and Outreach, Food and Drug
Administration; Office of Compliance,
Food and Drug Administration; Office of
Environment and Natural Resources,
U.S. Trade Representative; Office of
General Counsel, U.S. Trade
Representative. Resources from these
offices, including data and expertise,
drove the analysis and application of
principles. Additional information used
was from U.S. government-verifiable
sources, such as data gathered by
Regional Fisheries Management
Organizations to which the United
States is a member and whose scientific
data is developed and reviewed with
active U.S. government participation.
Sub-working groups composed of
subject matter experts from the agencies
listed above were created to complete
the analyses of each species under each
individual principle. The Working
Group then combined the analyses done
by the sub-working groups to determine
which species were most at risk of IUU
fishing and seafood fraud. The Working
Group noted that the suite of risks posed
to species varied not only in terms of
which risks affected which species, but
also in terms of the scale of the risks.
For example, a single documented case
of species substitution for a species that
is sold in high volumes was considered
differently than one case for a species
rarely found in U.S. markets.
Additionally, as the Working Group
discussed the suite of risks associated
with the principles, a relationship
became evident between the
enforcement capability associated with
a species and the history of violations.
In many cases, a history of violations
was indicative of a strong enforcement
capability for a species. Conversely, for
some species, a lack of violations
history may have been due to an inability to detect or prosecute violations.
After the second round of public
comment, the Working Group
reconvened to discuss the eight new
species or species groups added to the
analysis in response to public comments
plus new, relevant, U.S. governmentverifiable information from the past five
years applicable to species already
analyzed. Based upon these discussions,
the list of species now deemed to be at
risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud
has been modified from the draft list.
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Species at Risk of IUU Fishing and
Seafood Fraud
The Working Group recognizes that
all species of fish can be susceptible to
some risk of IUU fishing or seafood
fraud due to the inherent complexities
in the fishing industry and supply
chain. However, the species list has
been developed to identify species for
which the current risks of IUU fishing
or seafood fraud warrant prioritization
for the first phase of the traceability
program. Pursuant to the Action Plan,
implementation of the first phase of the
traceability program will be regularly
evaluated, beginning with a report to be
issued by December 2016, in order to
determine ‘‘whether it is meeting the
intended objectives and how it can be
expanded to provide more information
to prevent seafood fraud and combat
IUU fishing.’’
Based on its evaluation, the Working
Group identified the following list of
species or species groups at risk of IUU
fishing and seafood fraud, in
alphabetical order. (Appendix A to this
final notice lists the scientific names for
these species and/or species groups.)
Brief summaries of the Working Group
findings are presented here. Detailed
presentation of the data considered by
the Working Group and its deliberations
is protected from disclosure because of
data confidentiality and enforcement
implications.
Abalone: Abalone is considered to be
at-risk due to enforcement concerns.
The fishery has a history of poaching,
and there is a known black market for
this expensive seafood. The fishery is
primarily conducted by small vessels
close to shore, and does not require
specialized gear, which makes it
difficult to detect illegal harvest, despite
some enforcement capability. In
addition to the IUU fishing risks for
abalone, there is a history of species
substitution where topshell is
fraudulently marketed as abalone.
Atlantic Cod: Atlantic cod has been
the subject of species substitution with
other white fish, and mislabeling due to
over-glazing (ice coating), and shortweighting. Despite enforcement
capability, Atlantic Cod have been
targets of IUU fishing in parts of the
geographic range of the species.
Additional IUU fishing risk is tied to a
lack of an effective catch documentation
scheme throughout the geographic range
of fishing activity, despite rigorous
reporting requirements in some areas
including the United States.
Blue Crab: Atlantic Blue crab is sold
in a number of different forms from live
animals to significantly processed crab
meat. In the crabmeat product form
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species identification is only possible
through DNA testing. There is a strong
history of both species substitution and
mislabeling. Blue crab has been
substituted or co-mingled with
swimming crab, which is native to
Southeast Asia. The mislabeling history
is largely associated with
misidentification of product origin, with
crab from other locations sold as
‘‘Maryland crab,’’ although there have
also been incidents of short-weighting
in the sale of crab meat.
Dolphinfish: Dolphinfish (also known
as Mahi Mahi) is associated with a lack
of enforcement capability and lacks a
catch documentation scheme
throughout the geographic range of
fishing activity, which make it
vulnerable to IUU fishing. Some
dolphinfish is transshipped prior to
entry into the United States, and there
is concern over mislabeling associated
with product origin. In addition, there is
a history of species substitution, in
which yellowtail flounder has been sold
as dolphinfish.
Grouper: Grouper refers to a group of
species in the family Serranidae that are
legally fished and sold under the names
grouper and spotted grouper. Grouper,
as a species group, has a history of
fisheries violations, and lacks a catch
documentation scheme throughout the
geographic range of fishing activity for
the species group. Additionally, this
global species is transshipped, and
processed both at the local level and at
regionally-located or third-country
processing plants. Grouper has a strong
history of species substitution,
including substitution using seafood
that is of human health concern, such as
escolar (which has a Gempylotoxin
hazard).
King Crab (red): King crab (red) has a
significant history of fisheries
violations, and insufficient enforcement
capability in some parts of the world.
Additional IUU fishing risk is tied to the
lack of an effective catch documentation
scheme throughout the geographic range
of fishing activity, despite rigorous
reporting requirements in some areas,
including the United States. King crab is
at risk of seafood fraud, mostly due to
misrepresentation of product origin, as
well as some species substitution.
Further, King crab is often transshipped
before entering the United States, which
increases the IUU fishing and seafood
fraud risks.
Pacific cod: Pacific cod is a species at
risk of IUU fishing despite significant
enforcement capability associated with
this fishery. Pacific cod is a target of
global IUU fishing operators and has a
clear history of fishing violations. It is
also subject to highly globalized
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processing and transshipment.
Additional IUU fishing risk is tied to a
lack of an effective catch documentation
scheme throughout the geographic range
of fishing activity, despite rigorous
reporting requirements in some areas
including the United States. In addition,
as with Atlantic cod, there is a history
of species substitution using other white
fish and concerns over mislabeling
associated with over-glazing (ice
coating) and short-weighting.
Red Snapper: Red Snapper is at risk
of IUU fishing, based upon the history
of fisheries violations, as well as the
lack of a catch documentation scheme
throughout the geographic range of
fishing activity, despite rigorous
reporting requirements in some areas
including the United States. There are
also enforcement capability concerns for
red snapper throughout the full
geographic range of fishing activity for
the species. Additionally, there is a
strong history of species substitution
with some of the substituted species
(e.g., rockfish, porgy, other snappers)
presenting a risk to human health due
to parasites and natural toxins.
Sea Cucumber: Sea cucumber is an
IUU fishing concern, due to the lack of
enforcement capability and known
illegal harvesting and smuggling
associated with this species. This
species also lacks a catch
documentation scheme throughout the
geographic range of fishing activity and
is subject to a significant amount of
transshipment. Although sea cucumber
is often sold live, it can also be
processed into a dried product for
preservation. There are mislabeling
concerns for sea cucumber, often tied to
falsification of shipping and export
documentation to conceal illegallyharvested product.
Sharks: ‘‘Sharks,’’ as included on the
at-risk species list, refers to a group of
species that are often sold as fins, with
some species also sold as steaks or filets.
Depending upon the product form,
differentiating between species in this
broad group is a challenge without
identification guides or DNA testing.
This led the Working Group to group all
shark species together to assess risks.
Sharks as a species group have a history
of fishing violations because they are
processed and transshipped, and there
is a lack of enforcement capability
throughout the geographic range of
fishing activity. There is a global trade
in shark fins that is a known
enforcement concern. In addition to the
IUU fishing risks associated with sharks,
there are fraud concerns tied to the sale
of imitation shark fin, which has been
labeled as shark fin.
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Shrimp: Shrimp is produced through
both aquaculture and wild harvest. The
Working Group found that shrimp is at
risk of IUU fishing activity due to the
history of fishery violations. Shrimp is
also often processed and co-mingled,
which can make it vulnerable to seafood
fraud. There is a significant amount of
mislabeling and/or misrepresentation of
shrimp, tied largely to
misrepresentation of weight, including
where product has been treated with
Sodium Tripolyphosphate to increase
water retention (the lack of labeling is
fraudulent, not the use of Sodium
Tripolyphosphate). Mislabeling is also a
concern because aquacultured product
is sometimes labeled as wild caught and
product origin is sometimes falsified.
Additionally, there is a history of
substitution of one species of shrimp for
another when imports cross the border
into the United States.
Swordfish: Swordfish are at risk of
both IUU fishing and seafood fraud.
Swordfish are a highly migratory
species and their range crosses
numerous jurisdictions, including the
high seas. There is a history of fisheries
violations in certain swordfish fisheries
and regions, in addition to a lack of
enforcement capability. The United
States does, however, implement a
statistical document program for
swordfish pursuant to the International
Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to help mitigate
IUU fishing and seafood fraud risk. This
document is required for all swordfish
product entering the United States,
regardless of the product form or ocean
area where it was harvested, although it
does not provide the full range of
information that would likely be
expected in a traceability program,
particularly for fish harvested outside
the Atlantic, which are not a part of the
program. Swordfish is commonly
transshipped and is also at risk of
species substitution with mako shark.
Tunas: Tunas are a high volume and
high value species group that includes
five main species: Albacore, bigeye,
skipjack, yellowfin, and the bluefins.
There is a history of fisheries violations
in certain tuna fisheries and in certain
regions. Further, harvesting,
transshipment, and trade patterns for
tunas can be complex, in particular for
certain value-added products. While
there are multilateral management and
reporting measures in place for many
stocks within the tuna species group,
these management and reporting
mechanisms vary in terms of
information standards and requirements
and some do not provide a complete
catch documentation scheme. Tunas are
also subject to complicated processing
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that includes comingling of species and
transshipments. Further, there is a
history of some species substitutions,
with most instances involving
substitution of one tuna species for
another. Additionally, there have also
been instances of escolar, which can
contain a toxin, being substituted for
albacore tuna.
The Working Group sought public
comment specifically on how to narrow
the scope of tunas on the list of at-risk
species. Public comment received
highlighted that the risk levels vary
greatly depending on species. The
Working Group further discussed the
variability of the risk levels for IUU
fishing and seafood fraud on a species
by species basis. The Working Group
has determined that Bluefin tuna
species are at a lower risk of IUU fishing
and seafood fraud than other tuna
species and has determined that it
should not be included on the list of atrisk species. This decision reflects our
conclusion that two of the principles
analyzed demonstrate that there is a
lower risk of IUU and seafood fraud as
compared to other tunas. First, there are
robust catch documentation scheme in
place for Atlantic bluefin tuna and
Southern bluefin tuna entering the U.S.
market, which are implemented through
Regional Fisheries Management
Organizations. Bluefin tuna was
historically a target of IUU fishing and
thus had a catch documentation scheme
implemented for two of the three
species world-wide, which are the two
species comprising the vast majority of
Bluefin that enters U.S. Commerce. A
catch documentation scheme is under
development for Pacific Bluefin tuna.
The existing catch documentation
scheme for Bluefin tuna does not
eliminate all risk of IUU fishing, but it
mitigates the risk to a low level. Second,
Bluefin tuna does not have the history
of species substitution that other tunas
have, in part because of its different
color and texture compared to other
tunas, as well as the sophistication of
Bluefin buyers, in discerning Bluefin
from other fish. Although the Working
Group recognizes that there may be
further variance in risk level among the
three Bluefin species, we have chosen to
remove all three stocks, so as not to
create any incentive for new species
substitution schemes among the three
Bluefin species.
Programs To Mitigate Risk
Through the application of the
principles for determining at-risk
species, the Working Group identified
two species—toothfish and catfish—that
had a number of risk factors for IUU
fishing or seafood fraud but, due to
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66871
mechanisms to address those risks, are
not being listed as at-risk species in this
Notice.
Toothfish has been known,
historically, as a species with IUU
fishing concerns, which led to the
development, by the Commission for the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living
Resources (CCAMLR), of a number of
monitoring tools including a
comprehensive catch documentation
scheme. Without the existing level of
reporting, documentation, and
enforcement capability, including
through measures adopted by CCAMLR,
for this species, the Working Group
would have found it to be at-risk.
The Working Group found that while
existing measures do not eliminate risk
for toothfish, they mitigate the IUU
fishing and seafood fraud risks to such
a level that the Working Group is not
listing toothfish as an at-risk species for
the first phase of the traceability
program.
In the United States, seafood sold as
catfish must be from the family
Ictaluridae per section 403(t) of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(21 U.S.C. 343(t)). There is a strong
history of species substitution, in which
non-Ictaluridae species are sold as
catfish. Some of this species
substitution has been tied to
Siluriformes species, which could have
a drug hazard associated with them, as
well as other species that have been
found contaminated with prohibited
chemicals and pharmaceuticals. In
addition to species substitution, there is
a history of other mislabeling issues,
including product origin and failure to
accurately label product that has been
treated with carbon monoxide.
These risks were discussed and are
fully recognized by the Working Group.
However, there is a rulemaking on
catfish inspection (https://
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgenda
ViewRule?pubId=201410&RIN=0583AD36) under development, separate
from the NOC Committee and Working
Group actions. Once in effect, this
pending rulemaking may mitigate risks
identified by the Working Group.
Taking into consideration the
underlying principle of the Task Force
to maximize the use of existing
resources and expertise from across the
federal government through increased
federal agency collaboration, the
Working Group did not include catfish
on this initial list of at-risk species.
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Summary of Comments in Response to
Draft Principles and Draft List of AtRisk Species (80 FR 45955, August 3,
2015)
In response to the August 3, 2015,
Federal Register notice (described
above), and following outreach to
foreign nations, the Working Group
received 101 unique written comments
from fishing industry groups both
domestic and abroad, non-governmental
organizations, foreign nations, and
interested citizens. The comments
covered a breadth of issues pertaining to
seafood traceability. The Working Group
considered all public comments, and
has provided responses to all relevant
issues raised by comments below. We
have not responded to comments that
were outside the scope of the public
comment request and that may be more
relevant to future steps in the process,
e.g., the pending rulemaking on the
design and implementation of the
traceability system.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1. Decision-making Transparency
Comment: The Working Group
received numerous public comments
requesting additional information on
what data was used in making the
species risk determinations, as well as
what experts were a part of the process.
Response: This notice specifies all
government offices that contributed data
and expertise. The data came from
across the U.S. Federal government and
included government-verifiable data,
such as that of certain Regional
Fisheries Management Organizations.
As noted earlier, details of the results
have not been included because much
of the data reviewed are sensitive and/
or confidential, and could compromise
the integrity of individual businesses,
systems or enforcement capability if
released.
2. Approach for Analysis Should Be
Quantitative
Comment: We received comment that
the application of principles should be
quantitative, and use numbers and a
systematic data driven approach.
Response: The Working Group
partially agrees. We used systems and
expertise to apply the principles for
determining seafood species at-risk of
IUU fishing or seafood fraud evenly, and
did not give any individual principle
more weight than another. The
application of these principles was not
entirely quantitative, however, as some
of the information we used was not
quantitative. Incidents of illegal fishing
and incidents of fraudulent activity vary
in scope and scale from one to the next
and the differences cannot be
numerically calculated.
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3. Data Used Should Be From a Longer
Time Period
Comment: The Working Group
received public comment that a longer
time horizon would afford more data on
violations and more ability to see trends
over time.
Response: The Working Group agrees
that looking at a longer time horizon
would produce more data from the
databases utilized; however it would
potentially decrease the accuracy of the
determination regarding current risk.
There have been efforts made in most
fisheries to decrease the level of risk,
and the Working Group does not think
that data from further back than five
years accurately depicts the current
status of fisheries.
4. Using Additional Authorities
Comment: Comment was received
regarding the legal authorities for the
rulemaking and regulatory process that
will implement a seafood traceability
program for the species listed as at-risk.
Response: This comment is outside
the scope of this public comment
request. The rulemaking process will
provide an opportunity for public
comment on the proposed seafood
traceability program and this comment
would be more appropriately directed
toward that process.
5. Country Specific Risk/Country of
Origin Based
Comment: The Working Group
received numerous comments,
including from many foreign nations
that species risk should be tied to
country of origin.
Response: The Working Group
acknowledges that the risk of IUU
fishing will vary depending on the
origin of catch and country of
processing. However, the Working
Group used enforcement capability and
history of fisheries violations when
determining the at-risk species to
capture this element of the risk analysis
because these more directly represent
risk. These principles already take into
account fisheries identified in NOAA’s
biennial report to Congress as
implicated in IUU fishing (see 16 U.S.C.
1826h). In addition, the Working Group
does not believe it is useful or
appropriate to establish a principle
based on country of origin.
6. Vessel Specific
Comment: The Working Group
received a comment that the risk level
and the application of the traceability
program should be vessel specific, as
that is the appropriate level at which to
assess risk.
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Response: The Working Group used
history of fisheries violations as a
principle, which covers incidents from
all vessels.
7. Equality
Comment: Numerous comments were
received regarding equality. The
majority of the comments received were
tied to equality from one nation to
another. These comments included
requests that countries be treated
equally in the analysis for identifying atrisk species, as well as comments
outside of the scope of this comment
request, pertaining to the equal and
evenhanded implementation of the
pending traceability program.
Response: The Working Group
applied each of the principles for
determining risk level evenly and
equally. The principles were applied
equally to domestically-landed species
and imported species.
8. IUU Fishing Should Be Separate
From Seafood Fraud
Comment: The working group
received a couple of comments that
seafood fraud and IUU fishing are
separate and should be analyzed as
such.
Response: The Working Group agrees
and recognizes the difference between
IUU fishing and seafood fraud. We
recognize that, for example, they may
occur at different points in the supply
chain from harvest to entry into U.S.
commerce; however the Working Group
believes they are a part of the same
system. The Working Group developed
principles, informed by public
comment, which are specific to the
different components. For example,
under the principles applied by the
Working Group, the history of fishery
violations is specific to the concept of
IUU fishing, whereas species
misrepresentation is specific to seafood
fraud. When analyzing a species, the
Working Group applied each principle
individually and then analyzed the
resulting findings across the supply
chain for both IUU fishing and seafood
fraud.
9. Enforcement of Existing Laws
Comment: Public comment
encouraged the enforcement and
application of existing laws before
creating new laws.
Response: This notice, which
identifies at-risk species, does not, in
and of itself, create any new legal
requirements. Establishment of the
seafood traceability program through a
future rulemaking, as well as the
resources devoted to implementation of
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices
current laws, are outside the scope of
this comment request.
10. Combatting IUU Fishing Requires
Focus on Flag State, Port State, and
Market State
Comment: The Working Group
received comment that proposing a list
of at-risk species and the following
implementation of a seafood traceability
program focuses solely on the market
drivers of IUU fishing and seafood
fraud, and does not approach Flag State
and Port State measures. The
commenter stated that all three are
critical components to combatting IUU
fishing and seafood fraud, and that a
narrow focus would limit effectiveness.
Response: The Presidential Task
Force on Combatting IUU Fishing and
Seafood Fraud Action Plan contains 15
recommendations. This series of
Federal Register notices pertained only
to one component of recommendation
15, the identification of principles for
determining at-risk species and the
initial list of at-risk species. Other Task
Force recommendations focus on Flag
State and Port State measures, from
actions on enforcement capacity
building to working on obtaining entry
into force of the Port State Measures
Agreement.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
11. Biological Vulnerability/Overfished/
Overfishing Should Be a Principle
Comment: The Working Group
received comments requesting that a
principle for determining at-risk species
be tied to the biological vulnerability
and/or status of a species. Commenters
note that as a species is overfished, the
risk of IUU fishing can increase.
Response: The Working Group
acknowledges that the sustainability of
fisheries resources is a priority for
NOAA under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (MSA), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Some
vulnerable species identified in public
comments such as sharks, sturgeon
caviar, and abalone were added to the
base list and analyzed by the Working
Group. The Working Group agrees that
as legal catch limits on a species are
tightened, the incentive for IUU fishing
often increases. However, the main
focus of this process is to identify
species at risk of IUU fishing or seafood
fraud and enforcement capability and
history of violations are better indicators
of IUU fishing risk than species
sustainability.
12. Gear-Type
Comment: The Working Group
received a comment that the risk of IUU
fishing is tied to gear type, and that gear
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type should be a principle for
determining at-risk species.
Response: The Working Group
acknowledges that fishing gear used in
IUU fishing can sometimes include
illegal gear types that are indiscriminate
and can have higher environmental
impacts than legal gear types. However,
the Working Group does not believe that
gear type alone is a sufficiently strong
determinant of IUU fishing or seafood
fraud risk, and use of illegal gear types
was covered through the information
collected on enforcement capability and
history of violations.
13. Human Rights and/or Human
Trafficking Concern
Comment: Numerous comments were
received recommending that a history of
human rights violations or human
trafficking concerns should be a
principle used to identify species at risk
of IUU fishing and seafood fraud.
Response: Human rights and human
trafficking are issues in the fishing
industry that warrant consideration and
action, but are not in and of themselves
determinative of IUU fishing and
seafood fraud. The Administration is
addressing these issues in a variety of
ways. On March 15, 2012, President
Obama called on his cabinet to
strengthen federal efforts to combat
human trafficking and to expand
partnerships with civil society and the
private sector. The President’s
Interagency Task Force to Monitor and
Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF)
and its operational arm, the Senior
Policy Operating Group (SPOG), bring
together federal departments and
agencies to ensure a whole-ofgovernment approach that addresses all
aspects of human trafficking—
enforcement of criminal and labor laws,
development of victim identification
and protection measures, support for
innovations in data gathering and
research, education and public
awareness, enhanced partnerships and
research opportunities, and strategically
linked foreign assistance and diplomatic
engagement. For more information on
the Administration’s effort to combat
Trafficking of Persons, please visit
https://www.state.gov/j/tip/
response/usg/.
14. Transparency of Vessel Ownership
Comment: The Working Group
received comment recommending that
the transparency of vessel ownership be
used as a principle for determining
species at risk of IUU fishing and
seafood fraud. The comment suggests
that convoluted vessel ownership and
flags of convenience are often tied to
IUU fishing.
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Response: The Working Group agrees
with the potential correlation between
vessel ownership transparency and the
potential for IUU fishing. This was
addressed in the Working Group’s
discussions about enforcement
capability; however there is not
sufficient data available to analyze this
as a principle for determining at-risk
species.
15. Complex Chain of Custody
Comment: The Working Group
received multiple comments on using
the complexity of the chain of custody
as a principle for determining IUU
fishing risk. Many commenters agreed
with the inclusion of this as a principle,
while another group suggested there
was no connection between IUU fishing
and chain-of-custody complexity. The
latter group requested more information
on the relationship between the level of
processing or chain-of-custody
complexity and the risk of IUU fishing.
We also received public comment
stating that the two are not related, and
thus this principle should not be used
to determine at-risk species.
Response: The Working Group does
not believe that a complex chain of
custody or high level of processing
necessarily signifies fraudulent product
or a connection to IUU fishing. In the
more complex chains of custody,
however, there are more opportunities
for mixing illegally caught fish with
legally caught fish, and for mislabeling,
thereby increasing the risk of IUU
fishing or seafood fraud.
Transshipments make tracking the chain
of custody harder and present
opportunities to commingle legally and
illegally caught fish. Seafood that
undergoes a high amount of processing
and enters U.S. Commerce through a
long chain of custody may often be legal
and not fraudulent, but that does not
negate the increased risk. Therefore, the
Working Group had retained complexity
in the chain of custody as a principle for
determining at-risk species.
16. Harmful Antibiotics and Human
Health Risk
Comment: The Working Group
received comment requesting that in the
application of the human health risk
principle, we extend our assessment of
risk to harmful antibiotic use.
Response: The application of the
human health risk principle did include
the use of harmful or unlawful
antibiotic use. This principle does not,
however, include the use of legal and
non-harmful antibiotic use in
aquaculture practice.
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17. Weighting of Principles
Comment: The Working Group
received public comment both
requesting clarification on whether we
weighted some principles more heavily
than others, as well as comment
requesting that we do so.
Response: The Working Group
considered all of the principles without
giving weights to them. The discussion
for each species evaluated covered all of
the principles and the findings
associated for each, and the Working
Group reviewed the suite of risks as a
whole picture, without any one
principle having a designated higher
level of importance.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
18. Number of Species
Comment: The Working Group
received comments requesting both that
all species be part of the first phase of
the pending traceability program as well
as comments requesting that the list of
at-risk species be limited to two to three
species.
Response: The Action Plan specifies
that the Working Group is to prioritize
species at risk of IUU fishing and
seafood fraud in the first phase of a
seafood traceability program that could
eventually be expanded to cover all
species. As directed by the Task Force,
the Working Group completed a data
driven analysis and listed species
determined to be most at risk of IUU
fishing or seafood fraud. This exercise
was not predicated on creating a list
with a certain number of species, rather
the focus was on the most at-species,
regardless of the numerical results.
19. The Substitute Species Should Be
Tracked (e.g., Blue Swimming Crab)
Comment: Public comment received
recommended that the traceability
program track both the at-risk species
and the species that are substitutes for
those targets. For example, Atlantic Blue
Crab is on the list of at-risk species, in
part because Blue Swimmer Crab is
known to be mislabeled and
fraudulently marketed under the
Atlantic Blue Crab name. The
recommendation from public comment
is that both are at-risk of seafood fraud
and, therefore, both the target and the
substitute should be tracked.
Response: The Working Group
believes that the species at risk of fraud
is the one that other species are used to
imitate and that, at this time, tracking of
the target species is the most efficient
approach.
20. Aquaculture Species
Comment: Commenters requested that
aquaculture species be exempt from the
pending traceability program, and
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removed from the list of at-risk species
because aquacultured species are not
subject to IUU fishing.
Response: Both wild caught and
aquacultured seafood can be at risk of
seafood fraud (e.g., farmed shrimp
mislabeled as wild-caught) and
therefore both are included on the list
of at-risk species.
21. Consistency and Coordination With
the Marine Mammal Rule
Comment: Public comment was
received regarding the relationship
between this list of at-risk species, the
pending seafood traceability program,
and the proposed rulemaking
promulgated under the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA). The proposed
MMPA rule aims to reduce marine
mammal bycatch associated with
commercial fishing operations. Under
the proposed MMPA rule, nations
wishing to export fish and fish products
to the United States must demonstrate
they have a regulatory program for
reducing marine mammal incidental
mortality and serious injury that is
comparable in effectiveness to the U.S.
program.
Response: The MMPA proposed
rulemaking is focused on reducing
marine mammal bycatch, unlike this
Federal Register Notice, which
identifies species at risk of IUU fishing
and seafood fraud. However, NOAA
recognizes the importance of ensuring
that its programs are consistent and
coordinated.
22. ‘‘High Volume,’’ ‘‘High Visibility’’
Comment: A commenter requested
clarification regarding the meaning of
the terms ‘‘high volume’’ and ‘‘high
visibility’’ species when referring to
tunas, in the Federal Register notice
with the draft list of at-risk species.
Response: In using those terms, the
Working Group was trying to highlight
that this is a popular group of species
in the U.S. market. Tuna is a high
volume import, and the text should
have read that is it also a ‘‘high value’’
species.
23. Use Scientific Names
Comment: The Working Group
received numerous comments
requesting that scientific names be used
to in the list of at-risk species, for
greater clarity.
Response: The Working Group agrees
with this comment, and has included an
appendix of the scientific names for the
at-risk species.
24. Government Resources
Comment: Comments were received
recommending that the U.S. government
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contribute adequate resources both
domestically and in capacity building
abroad to implement the pending
traceability program effectively. A
separate comment was also received
stating that no additional government
resources should be spent on
implementing the pending program.
Response: Implementation of the
seafood traceability program is outside
the scope of this Federal Register
Notice, however, the Working Group
notes that the Action Plan does not call
for additional government resources for
this effort.
25. United Nations Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO) Catch
Documentation Scheme
Comment: The Working Group
received comment that FAO has begun
discussions about implementing a catch
documentation scheme and that we
should use their deliberations to inform
our pending program.
Response: The traceability program as
outlined in the Action Plan is to be in
at least two parts. The first phase
applies to species most at risk of IUU
fishing and seafood fraud and, by
December 2016, an evaluation of the
program will be conducted to inform a
possible program expansion to all
species. The FAO deliberations, if
contemporary to the predetermined
timeline for the U.S. program, could
prove useful, as could additional work
being contemplated by the FAO related
specifically to traceability.
26. Existing Efforts To Combat IUU
Fishing and Seafood Fraud
Comment: The public comment
highlighted the importance of not
duplicating efforts of existing programs
and enforcement that target IUU fishing
and seafood fraud.
Response: The Working Group agrees,
and the Presidential Task Force to
Combat IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud
and the Action Plan both support the
idea of coordination, not duplication.
27. Third Party Certification
Comment: The Working Group
received public comment requesting
clarification on whether third party
certification (e.g., Marine Stewardship
Council) would exempt product from
the pending seafood traceability
program. Comment was also received
recommending that product should be
exempt if it is certified by a third party.
Response: Implementation of the
traceability program, including any
potential exemptions, is beyond the
mandate of the Working Group and
outside the scope of this Federal
Register Notice. It will be addressed in
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the forthcoming rulemaking related to
the traceability program.
28. Fraud in the United States
Comment: The Working Group
received comments on the level of fraud
that happens with seafood inside U.S.
commerce, once seafood has entered
into our markets. Comments requested
information on how the pending
traceability program will address the
amount of fraud that happens once
seafood is inside U.S. markets.
Response: The scope of the
traceability program is beyond the
mandate of the Working Group and
outside the scope of this Federal
Register Notice. It will be addressed in
the forthcoming rulemaking related to
the traceability program.
29. Chain of Custody Principle
Discriminates Against Imports
Comment: One commenter noted that
using complex chain of custody as a
principle will discriminate against
imports.
Response: The Working Group
disagrees. The Working Group
considered the frequency of
transshipment, complexity of
processing, and complexity of the
supply chain (especially with respect to
the potential for fish to be comingled)
equally for domestically-harvested and
imported fish.
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30. Carbon Monoxide
Comment: One comment was received
concerning the use of carbon monoxide
to improve the color of fish to make it
appear fresh. The commenter was
concerned that this practice creates an
unfair market for local seafood that is
fresh and untreated with carbon
monoxide. Another commenter was
concerned about our inclusion of carbon
monoxide as an example of fraud, as it
is legal to use.
Response: The Working Group
recognizes the concerns raised by these
comments. The use of carbon monoxide
is legal; however, the product must be
labeled appropriately. The mislabeling
principle addressed the fraudulent
practice of failing to properly label
product that has been treated.
31. Tripolyphosphate
Comment: The Working Group
received a comment that expressed
concern about our inclusion of
Tripolyphosphate as an example of
fraud associated with shrimp, as it is
legal to use.
Response: The Working Group
recognizes the concerns raised by these
comments. The use of Tripolyphosphate
is legal; however, the product must be
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labeled appropriately. The mislabeling
principle addressed the fraudulent
practice of failing to properly label
product that has been treated.
Canned Tuna
Comment: Public comments noted
that the majority of tuna in the United
States is from canning companies that
have industry-run traceability programs
for contamination and human health
reasons and thus have a lower level of
IUU fishing and fraud risk.
Response: The Working Group agrees
that some canned tuna may have a
lower level of IUU fishing and seafood
fraud risk than other product forms.
This is based both upon the existence
and potential effectiveness of industry
led traceability programs for canned
tuna, and the fact that canned product
that enters U.S. commerce as ‘‘dolphin
safe,’’ is required to have a statement
from the captain of the harvest vessel
thus tying the product to the harvest
vessel. The Working Group notes that
the potentially lower level of risk for
canned tuna products could be
considered in the application of the data
collections requirements of the
forthcoming proposed traceability
program or be addressed through the
voluntary Trusted Trader Program to be
developed by the Departments of
Commerce and Homeland Security per
Recommendations 14 and 15 of the
Action Plan.
32. Bioterrorism Act of 2002
Comment: The Working Group
received a comment requesting
clarification on the relationship between
the pending traceability program and
this Bioterrorism Act of 2002.
Response: The Bioterrorism Act of
2002 required FDA to establish
requirements for the creation and
maintenance of records needed to
determine the immediate previous
sources and the immediate subsequent
recipients of food, (i.e., one up, one
down). Such records are to allow FDA
to address credible threats of serious
adverse health consequences or death to
humans or animals. Entities subject to
these provisions are those that
manufacture, process, pack, transport,
distribute, receive, hold or import food.
Farms and restaurants are exempt from
these requirements.
To carry out this provision in the
Bioterrorism Act, the Food Safety
Modernization Act (FSMA) was enacted
and it included enhancing tracking and
tracing of food and recordkeeping.
Under FSMA, FDA, working with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and State agencies, has established two
product tracing pilot projects carried out
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
66875
by the Institute of Food Technologists
(IFT). The projects will help determine
which data are most needed to trace a
product that is in the market back to a
common source and, once the
contaminated ingredient is identified, to
trace the product forward to know
where it has been distributed. IFT has
recommended steps for traceability
improvement, and the information is
still under review and we cannot make
any comparative analyses.
33. Cooked Seafood
Comment: The Working Group
received comment requesting
clarification as to whether the pending
seafood traceability program would
extend to cooked seafood, which is
exempted from the Country of Origin
Labeling (COOL) protocols.
Response: The product types that will
be a part of the program will be
delineated in the traceability rulemaking process and are beyond the
scope of this Federal Register Notice.
34. Base List of Species
Comment: The Working Group
received a public comment that the base
list of species examined was skewed
toward high value species, and the focus
should be broadened to include massmarket fish.
Response: Initially the Working Group
looked at both high value and high
volume fisheries, but many of the high
volume fisheries were also high value
fisheries. Generally the only high
volume fisheries that did not meet the
value threshold were from bait fish
fisheries. Therefore, the Working Group
concluded a separate look at high
volume fisheries was not useful. There
were a number of lower value, but
higher volume (mass market), stocks
analyzed using the standards noted as
part of the base list. However, the level
of risk associated with many of them
did not warrant having them on a list of
species at risk of IUU fishing and
seafood fraud.
35. European Union (EU) IUU Seafood
Certification
Comment: A number of comments
included discussion of the EU approach
to combatting IUU fishing, which is
country-of-origin based, rather than
species-based.
Response: The Working Group is
implementing the recommendations of
the Presidential Task Force on
Combatting IUU fishing and Seafood
Fraud, which outlines a species specific
approach as the basis for the first phase
of the traceability scheme. As noted
above, the Working Group does not
believe it is appropriate to establish a
E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM
30OCN1
66876
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices
principle based on country of origin. In
addition, the U.S. government does not
have active involvement with the EU
country-based IUU fishing risk
identification system. Therefore, the
Working Group did not include a
principle that would identify at-risk
species based on whether they are
associated with nations that have been
issued a yellow or red card under the
EU system. However, to the extent
available, information generated or
collected pursuant to the EU system that
could be relevant to other principles
used by the Working Group, such as
enforcement capability and history of
fisheries violations for specific species,
was considered.
36. Additional Species
Comment: The Working Group
received many comments requesting
that additional species be added to the
list of at-risk species. The additional
species requested included: Anchovies,
All Snappers, Eels, Flounder, Lobster,
Mackerel, Pollock, Octopus, Salmon,
Skates & Rays, Snow Crab, Squid,
Totoaba, and Weakfish.
Response: Lobster, Mackerel, Pollock,
Salmon, Snow crab, and Squid were
evaluated by the Working Group
previously. The Working Group has
confirmed that its earlier assessment of
the species was accurate. Specific to the
requests to have all snappers on the list,
the Working Group determined that the
species that is most at-risk for IUU
fishing and seafood fraud is Red
Snapper, and that the other snappers are
generally used as a substitute for Red
Snapper. Thus the Working Group did
not expand the at-risk species to include
all snappers. Totoaba, was requested for
addition through public comment, but
was not evaluated. Totoaba is listed as
endangered under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA), and is listed in
Appendix 1 of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) as threatened with extinction.
This listing eliminates legal trade and
negates the need for including Totoaba
on the list of at-risk species.
The Working Group reviewed the
following additional species, as
suggested through public comments:
Anchovies; Eels; Flounder (Southern
and Summer); Octopus; Queen Conch;
Weakfish; Skates and Rays. All of these
species were evaluated using the same
principles and methodology applied to
the previously analyzed species. The
Working Group did not find enough risk
across the suite of principles to warrant
adding any of the newly suggested
species to the final list of at-risk species.
37. Emphasis on Unregulated and
Unreported Catch
Comment: A comment was received
suggesting the Working Group needed to
increase attention on unregulated and
unreported catch, while another
comment suggested the Working Group
needed to pay less attention to
unregulated and unreported catch.
Response: Illegal, unregulated and
unreported catch all have negative
impacts on the sustainability of fisheries
and on legal fishing businesses across
the world. In its analysis, the Working
Group took into consideration
unregulated and unreported catch
concerns.
Appendix 1
Common
Scientific name
(to genus or to species)
Family
abalone .....................................
albacore ....................................
Atlantic cod ...............................
bigeye tuna ...............................
blue crab ..................................
dolphinfish ................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
groupers ...................................
Pacific cod ................................
red king crab ............................
red snapper ..............................
Haliotis spp .....................................................
Thunnus alalunga ...........................................
Gadus morhua ................................................
Thunnus obesus .............................................
Callinectes sapidus .........................................
Coryphaena hippurus .....................................
Aethaloperca spp ............................................
Anyperodon spp ..............................................
Caprodon spp .................................................
Cephalopholis spp ..........................................
Cromileptes spp ..............................................
Dermatolepis spp ............................................
Diplectrum spp ................................................
Epinephelus spp .............................................
Gracila spp ......................................................
Hyporthodus spp .............................................
Mycteroperca spp ...........................................
Plectropomus spp ...........................................
Saloptia spp ....................................................
Triso spp .........................................................
Variola spp ......................................................
Gadus macrocephalus ....................................
Paralithodes camtschaticus ............................
Lutjanus campechanus ...................................
Haliotidae ................................
Scombridae ............................
Gadidae ..................................
Scombridae ............................
Portunidae ..............................
Coryphaenidae .......................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Serranidae ..............................
Gadidae ..................................
Lithodidae ...............................
Lutjanidae ...............................
Order
GASTROPODA.
SCOMBROIDEI.
GADIFORMES.
SCOMBROIDEI.
BRACHYURA.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
PERCOIDEI.
GADIFORMES.
ANOMURA.
PERCOIDEI.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
All Sea Cucumber Species, including the below list from the Food and Agricultural Organization
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
VerDate Sep<11>2014
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
17:37 Oct 29, 2015
Actinopyga spp ...............................................
Apostichopus spp ...........................................
Astichopus spp ...............................................
Athyonidium spp .............................................
Australostichopus spp .....................................
Bohadschia spp ..............................................
Cucumaria spp ................................................
Heterocucumis spp .........................................
Holothuria spp .................................................
Isostichopus spp .............................................
Molpadia spp ..................................................
Paradota spp ..................................................
Parastichopus spp ..........................................
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Holothuriidae ..........................
Stichopodidae .........................
Stichopodidae .........................
Cucumariidae .........................
Stichopodidae .........................
Holothuriidae ..........................
Cucumariidae .........................
Cucumariidae .........................
Holothuriidae ..........................
Stichopodidae .........................
Molpadiidae ............................
Chiridotidae ............................
Stichopodidae .........................
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM
30OCN1
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
66877
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices
Scientific name
(to genus or to species)
Family
Pearsonothuria spp .........................................
Pseudocnus spp .............................................
Pseudostichopus spp ......................................
Psolidium spp .................................................
Psolus spp ......................................................
Staurocucumis spp .........................................
Stichopus spp .................................................
Thelenota spp .................................................
Trachythyone spp ...........................................
Holothuriidae ..........................
Cucumariidae .........................
Synallactidae ..........................
Psolidae ..................................
Psolidae ..................................
Cucumariidae .........................
Stichopodidae .........................
Stichopodidae .........................
Cucumariidae .........................
Common
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
sea
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
cucumber
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
Order
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
HOLOTHUROIDEA.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
All Shark Species (excluding skates and rays), including the below list from the Food and Agricultural Organization
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:37 Oct 29, 2015
Aculeola spp ...................................................
Alopias spp .....................................................
Apristurus spp .................................................
Asymbolus spp ...............................................
Atelomycterus spp ..........................................
Aulohalaelurus spp .........................................
Brachaelurus spp ............................................
Carcharhinus spp ............................................
Carcharias spp ................................................
Carcharodon spp ............................................
Centrophorus spp ...........................................
Centroscyllium spp .........................................
Centroscymnus spp ........................................
Cephaloscyllium spp .......................................
Cephalurus spp ...............................................
Cetorhinus spp ................................................
Chaenogaleus spp ..........................................
Chiloscyllium spp ............................................
Chlamydoselachus spp ...................................
Cirrhigaleus spp ..............................................
Cirrhoscyllium spp ..........................................
Ctenacis spp ...................................................
Dalatias spp ....................................................
Deania spp ......................................................
Echinorhinus spp ............................................
Eridacnis spp ..................................................
Etmopterus spp ...............................................
Eucrossorhinus spp ........................................
Euprotomicroides spp .....................................
Euprotomicrus spp ..........................................
Eusphyra spp ..................................................
Furgaleus spp .................................................
Galeocerdo spp ..............................................
Galeorhinus spp ..............................................
Galeus spp ......................................................
Ginglymostoma spp ........................................
Glyphis spp .....................................................
Gogolia spp .....................................................
Gollum spp ......................................................
Halaelurus spp ................................................
Haploblepharus spp ........................................
Hemigaleus spp ..............................................
Hemipristis spp ...............................................
Hemiscyllium spp ............................................
Hemitriakis spp ...............................................
Heptranchias spp ............................................
Heterodontus spp ...........................................
Heteroscyllium spp .........................................
Heteroscymnoides spp ...................................
Hexanchus spp ...............................................
Holohalaelurus spp .........................................
Hypogaleus spp ..............................................
Iago spp ..........................................................
Isistius spp ......................................................
Isogomphodon spp .........................................
Isurus spp .......................................................
Lamiopsis spp .................................................
Lamna spp ......................................................
Leptocharias spp ............................................
Loxodon spp ...................................................
Megachasma spp ...........................................
Jkt 238001
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Fmt 4703
Squalidae ................................
Alopiidae .................................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Brachaeluridae .......................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Odontaspididae ......................
Lamnidae ................................
Squalidae ................................
Squalidae ................................
Squalidae ................................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Cetorhinidae ...........................
Hemigaleidae ..........................
Hemiscylliidae .........................
Chlamydoselachidae ..............
Squalidae ................................
Parascylliidae .........................
Proscylliidae ...........................
Squalidae ................................
Squalidae ................................
Echinorhinidae ........................
Proscylliidae ...........................
Squalidae ................................
Orectolobidae .........................
Squalidae ................................
Squalidae ................................
Sphyrnidae .............................
Triakidae .................................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Triakidae .................................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Ginglymostomatidae ...............
Carcharhinidae .......................
Triakidae .................................
Pseudotriakidae ......................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Hemigaleidae ..........................
Hemigaleidae ..........................
Hemiscylliidae .........................
Triakidae .................................
Hexanchidae ...........................
Heterodontidae .......................
Brachaeluridae .......................
Squalidae ................................
Hexanchidae ...........................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Triakidae .................................
Triakidae .................................
Squalidae ................................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Lamnidae ................................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Lamnidae ................................
Leptochariidae ........................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Megachasmidae .....................
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM
30OCN1
SQUALIFORMES.
LAMNIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
LAMNIFORMES.
LAMNIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
LAMNIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
HEXANCHIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES
HEXANCHIFORMES.
HETERODONTIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
HEXANCHIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
LAMNIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
LAMNIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
LAMNIFORMES.
66878
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices
Scientific name
(to genus or to species)
Family
Mitsukurina spp ...............................................
Mustelus spp ...................................................
Nasolamia spp ................................................
Nebrius spp .....................................................
Negaprion spp ................................................
Notorynchus spp .............................................
Odontaspis spp ...............................................
Orectolobus spp ..............................................
Oxynotus spp ..................................................
Paragaleus spp ...............................................
Parascyllium spp .............................................
Parmaturus spp ..............................................
Pentanchus spp ..............................................
Pliotrema spp ..................................................
Poroderma spp ...............................................
Prionace spp ...................................................
Pristiophorus spp ............................................
Proscyllium spp ...............................................
Pseudocarcharias spp ....................................
Pseudotriakis spp ...........................................
Rhincodon spp ................................................
Rhizoprionodon spp ........................................
Schroederichthys spp .....................................
Scoliodon spp .................................................
Scyliorhinus spp ..............................................
Scylliogaleus spp ............................................
Scymnodalatias spp ........................................
Scymnodon spp ..............................................
Somniosus spp ...............................................
Sphyrna spp ....................................................
Squaliolus spp ................................................
Squalus spp ....................................................
Squatina spp ...................................................
Stegostoma spp ..............................................
Sutorectus spp ................................................
Triaenodon spp ...............................................
Triakis spp ......................................................
Mitsukurinidae ........................
Triakidae .................................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Ginglymostomatidae ...............
Carcharhinidae .......................
Hexanchidae/Notorynchidae ..
Odontaspididae ......................
Orectolobidae .........................
Oxynotidae .............................
Hemigaleidae ..........................
Parascylliidae .........................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Pristiophoridae ........................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Pristiophoridae ........................
Proscylliidae ...........................
Pseudocarchariidae ................
Pseudotriakidae ......................
Rhincodontidae .......................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Scyliorhinidae .........................
Triakidae .................................
Squalidae ................................
Squalidae ................................
Squalidae ................................
Sphyrnidae .............................
Squalidae ................................
Squalidae ................................
Squatinidae .............................
Stegostomatidae .....................
Orectolobidae .........................
Carcharhinidae .......................
Triakidae .................................
Common
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
sharks
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
Order
LAMNIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
HEXANCHIFORMES.
LAMNIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
PRISTIOPHORIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
PRISTIOPHORIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
LAMNIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
SQUALIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
CARCHARHINIFORMES.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
All Shrimp Species in the Order Decapoda, including the below list from the Food and Agricultural Organization
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
shrimps
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VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:37 Oct 29, 2015
Acanthephyra spp ...........................................
Acetes spp ......................................................
Alpheus spp ....................................................
Argis spp .........................................................
Aristaeomorpha spp ........................................
Aristaeopsis spp .............................................
Aristeus spp ....................................................
Artemesia spp .................................................
Atya spp ..........................................................
Atyopsis spp ...................................................
Atypopenaeus spp ..........................................
Bentheogennema spp .....................................
Benthesicymus spp .........................................
Campylonotus spp ..........................................
Caridina spp ....................................................
Chlorotocus spp ..............................................
Crangon spp ...................................................
Cryphiops spp .................................................
Cryptopenaeus spp .........................................
Dichelopandalus spp ......................................
Eualus spp ......................................................
Exhippolysmata spp ........................................
Exopalaemon spp ...........................................
Farfantepenaeus spp (now Penaeus) ............
Fenneropenaeus spp (now Penaeus) ............
Glyphocrangon spp .........................................
Glyphus spp ....................................................
Hadropenaeus spp .........................................
Haliporoides spp .............................................
Heptacarpus spp .............................................
Heterocarpoides spp .......................................
Heterocarpus spp ...........................................
Holthuispenaeopsis spp ..................................
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Oplophoridae ..........................
Sergestidae ............................
Alpheidae ................................
Crangonidae ...........................
Aristaeidae ..............................
Crangonidae ...........................
Aristaeidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Atyidae ....................................
Atyidae ....................................
Penaeidae ..............................
Benthesicymidae ....................
Benthesicymidae ....................
Campylonotidae ......................
Atyidae ....................................
Pandalidae ..............................
Crangonidae ...........................
Palaemonidae .........................
Solenoceridae .........................
Pandalidae ..............................
Hippolytidae ............................
Hippolytidae ............................
Palaemonidae .........................
Penaeidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Glyphocrangonidae ................
Pasiphaeidae ..........................
Solenoceridae .........................
Solenoceridae .........................
Hippolytidae ............................
Pandalidae ..............................
Pandalidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
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(NATANTIA).
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66879
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices
Scientific name
(to genus or to species)
Family
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skipjack tuna ............................
yellowfin tuna ...........................
swordfish ..................................
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Common
Hymenocera spp .............................................
Hymenodora spp ............................................
Hymenopenaeus spp ......................................
Latreutes spp ..................................................
Leandrites spp ................................................
Leptocarpus spp .............................................
Leptochela spp ...............................................
Lipkebe spp ....................................................
Lipkius spp ......................................................
Litopenaeus spp .............................................
Lysmata spp ...................................................
Macrobrachium spp ........................................
Macropetasma spp .........................................
Marsupenaeus spp .........................................
Melicertus spp .................................................
Mesopaeneus spp ..........................................
Metacrangon spp ............................................
Metapenaeopsis spp .......................................
Metapenaeus spp ...........................................
Microprosthema spp .......................................
Nematocarcinus spp .......................................
Nematopalaemon spp .....................................
Notocrangon spp ............................................
Notostomus spp ..............................................
Ogyrides spp ...................................................
Oplophorus spp ..............................................
Palaemon spp .................................................
Palaemonetes spp ..........................................
Pandalopsis spp .............................................
Pandalus spp ..................................................
Pantomus spp .................................................
Paracrangon spp ............................................
Parapandalus spp ...........................................
Parapenaeopsis spp .......................................
Parapenaeus spp ............................................
Paratya spp .....................................................
Pasiphaea spp ................................................
Penaeopsis spp ..............................................
Penaeus spp ...................................................
Pleoticus spp ..................................................
Plesionika spp .................................................
Plesiopenaeus spp .........................................
Pontocaris spp ................................................
Pontophilus spp ..............................................
Processa spp ..................................................
Protrachypene spp ..........................................
Rhynchocinetes spp .......................................
Saron spp .......................................................
Sclerocrangon spp ..........................................
Sergestes spp .................................................
Sicyonia spp ...................................................
Solenocera spp ...............................................
Spirontocaris spp ............................................
Stenopus spp ..................................................
Systellaspis spp ..............................................
Trachypenaeus spp ........................................
Trachysalambria spp ......................................
Xiphopenaeus spp ..........................................
Katsuwonus pelamis .......................................
Thunnus albacares .........................................
Xiphias gladiatus .............................................
Gnatophyllidae ........................
Oplophoridae ..........................
Solenoceridae .........................
Hippolytidae ............................
Palaemonidae .........................
Palaemonidae .........................
Pasiphaeidae ..........................
Palaemonidae .........................
Nematocarcinidae ...................
Penaeidae ..............................
Hippolytidae ............................
Palaemonidae .........................
Penaeidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Solenoceridae .........................
Crangonidae ...........................
Penaeidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Stenopodidae .........................
Nematocarcinidae ...................
Palaemonidae .........................
Crangonidae ...........................
Oplophoridae ..........................
Ogyrididae ..............................
Oplophoridae ..........................
Palaemonidae .........................
Palaemonidae .........................
Pandalidae ..............................
Pandalidae ..............................
Pandalidae ..............................
Crangonidae ...........................
Pandalidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Atyidae ....................................
Pasiphaeidae ..........................
Penaeidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Solenoceridae .........................
Pandalidae ..............................
Aristaeidae ..............................
Crangonidae ...........................
Crangonidae ...........................
Processidae ............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Rhynchocinetidae ...................
Hippolytidae ............................
Crangonidae ...........................
Sergestidae ............................
Sicyoniidae .............................
Solenoceridae .........................
Hippolytidae ............................
Stenopodidae .........................
Oplophoridae ..........................
Penaeidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Penaeidae ..............................
Scombridae ............................
Scombridae ............................
Xiphiidae .................................
Order
Dated: October 27, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–27780 Filed 10–29–15; 8:45 am]
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Decapoda (NATANTIA).
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Decapoda (NATANTIA).
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Decapoda (NATANTIA).
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Decapoda (NATANTIA).
Decapoda (NATANTIA).
Decapoda (NATANTIA).
SCOMBROIDEI.
SCOMBROIDEI.
SCOMBROIDEI.
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66867-66879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27780]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE285
Presidential Task Force on Combating Illegal Unreported and
Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud Action Plan
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
[[Page 66868]]
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Determination.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Ocean Council Committee on IUU Fishing and
Seafood Fraud (NOC Committee) has finalized principles for determining
seafood species at risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud (at-risk
species) and a list of at-risk species developed using the principles.
DATES: List of principles and at-risk species is final upon October 30,
2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danielle Rioux, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service (phone 301-427-8516, or
email Danielle.Rioux@noaa.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: According to NOAA statistics, in 2013, U.S.
fishers landed 9.9 billion pounds of fish and shellfish worth $5.5
billion. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood
fraud undermine the sustainability of U.S. and global seafood stocks
and negatively impact general ecosystem health. At the same time, IUU
fishing and fraudulent seafood products distort legal markets and
unfairly compete with the products of law-abiding fishers and seafood
industries globally. On March 15, 2015, the Presidential Task Force on
Combating IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud (Task Force), co-chaired by the
Departments of Commerce and State, took an historic step to address
these issues and published its Action Plan for Implementing Task Force
Recommendations (Action Plan).
The Action Plan
(https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/iuu/noaa_taskforce_report_final.pdf)
articulates the proactive steps that Federal agencies will take to
implement the recommendations the Task Force made to the President in
December 2014 on a comprehensive framework of integrated programs to
combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud. The Action Plan identifies
actions that will strengthen enforcement, create and expand
partnerships with state and local governments, industry, and non-
governmental organizations, and create a risk-based traceability
program to track seafood from harvest to entry into U.S. commerce,
including through the use of existing traceability mechanisms. The
scope of action anticipated through the Action Plan approaches IUU and
fraudulently-labeled seafood at the Flag State, Port State, and Market
State levels. The work the Task Force began continues under the
oversight of the NOC Committee, established in April 2015.
This final notice is one of several steps in the plan to implement
Task Force Recommendations 14 and 15, identifying ``species of fish or
seafood that are presently of particular concern because they are
currently subject to significant seafood fraud or because they are at
significant risk of being caught by IUU fishing.'' To begin
implementing these recommendations, the NOC Committee created a Working
Group (Working Group), led by NOAA and composed of members from partner
agencies: Department of State, Food and Drug Administration, Department
of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the Office of
the U.S. Trade Representative.
As the first step, the NOC Committee, through the Working Group,
solicited public input through a Federal Register notice (80 FR 24246,
April 30, 2015) on what principles should be used to determine the
seafood species at risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud. Public input
was received both in writing and through webinars. Taking into
consideration comments received, the Working Group developed draft
principles and a draft list of at-risk species based on those
principles. These principles and the draft list were then published in
a Federal Register notice (80 FR 45955, August 3, 2015) to solicit
additional public comment. This public comment period was extended
through Federal Register notice (80 FR 50270, August 19, 2015) until
September 11, 2015. The Working Group considered public input received
during the public comment period and developed final principles to
determine seafood species at risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud and a
final recommended list of at risk species.
This publication is the NOC Committee's transmission of the list of
species at risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud to the agencies
charged with implementing the Task Force recommendations for
appropriate action, as requested in the Action Plan, as well as
notification to the public. The list does not impose any legal
requirements, but will inform the first phase of the risk-based seafood
traceability program, as described in the Action Plan. The traceability
program itself will be developed through notice-and-comment rulemaking,
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, and that rulemaking will address data requirements, the design of
the program, and the species to which the first phase of the program
will be applied. Implementation and enforcement of the traceability
program may require engagement of additional U.S. agencies.
Principles for Determining Species at Risk of IUU Fishing and Seafood
Fraud
To develop principles, the Working Group considered public comments
received through both public comment periods. The Working Group
evaluated the strength and utility of various principles as indicators
for potential risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud as well as their
measurability and the robustness of data available to assess them. The
Working Group minimized overlap of principles to ensure that a species'
alignment with several principles does not overstate associated risk,
and also to distinguish between risk of IUU fishing and risk of seafood
fraud. The Working Group then applied the principles to a base list of
species to develop the list of species at risk of IUU fishing or
seafood fraud.
Based on the Working Group's evaluation and synthesis of comments
received through both public comment periods, the final principles are
listed below. Species and species groups were evaluated using these
principles:
Enforcement Capability: The existence and effectiveness of
enforcement capability of the United States and other countries, which
includes both the existing legal authority to enforce fisheries
management laws and regulations and the capacity (e.g., resources,
infrastructure, etc.) to enforce those laws and regulations throughout
the geographic range of fishing activity for a species.
Catch Documentation Scheme: The existence of a catch
documentation scheme throughout the geographic range of fishing
activity for a species, and the effectiveness of that scheme if it
exists, including whether a lack of proper documentation leads to
discrepancies between total allowable catch and trade volume of a
species.
Complexity of the Chain of Custody and Processing:
Consideration of transparency of chain-of-custody for a species, such
as the level of transshipment (in this context, the transfer of fish
from one vessel to another, either at sea or in port) for a species, as
well as the complexity of the supply chain and extent of processing
(e.g., fish that goes across multiple country borders or fish that is
commonly exported for processing or that is sold as fillet block vs.
whole fish) as it pertains to comingling of species or catch.
Species Misrepresentation: The history of known
misrepresentation of a species related to substitution with
[[Page 66869]]
another species, focused on mislabeling or other forms of
misrepresentation of seafood products.
Mislabeling or Other Misrepresentation: The history of
known misrepresentation of information other than mislabeling related
to species identification (e.g., customs misclassification or
misrepresentation related to country of origin, whether product is wild
vs. aquaculture, or product weight).
History of Violations: The history of violations of
fisheries laws and regulations in the United States and abroad for a
species, particularly those related to IUU fishing.
Human Health Risks: History of mislabeling, other forms of
misrepresentation, or species substitution leading to human health
concerns for consumers, including in particular, incidents when
misrepresentation of product introduced human health concerns due to
different production, harvest or handling standards, or when higher
levels of harmful pathogens or other toxins were introduced directly
from the substituted species.
Application of Principles
Given the large number of seafood species that are domestically
landed or imported, the Working Group created a base list of species
for evaluation using several factors: (1) The value of domestic
landings and imports (all seafood species with an imported or
domestically-landed value over $100 million USD in 2014 were included
on the base list); (2) species identified by the Working Group due to a
high cost of product per pound (which could increase the incentive for
IUU fishing and fraud); and (3) species proposed based on the expertise
of representatives from the Working Group agencies. In some cases, the
Working Group combined related species together in its analysis (e.g.,
shrimp), because the supporting data utilized nomenclature which made
further analytical breakouts unworkable. In other cases, the working
group was able to target species within larger species groups (e.g. red
snapper), based on commercial and marketplace significance.
The Working Group determined that data from the past five years was
the appropriate timeframe for decision-making because a longer
timeframe might not reflect improvements that have been made in some
fisheries over time and a shorter timeframe might not include
sufficient data to identify risks to certain species.
The resulting list of species and groups analyzed by applying the
principles listed above is set forth below. Note that this list is not
the list of at-risk species to which the first phase of the
traceability program will be applied:
Abalone; Billfish (Marlins, Spearfishes, and Sailfishes); Catfish
(Ictaluridae); Cod, Atlantic; Cod, Pacific; Crab, Blue; Crab,
Dungeness; Crab, King; Crab, Snow; Dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi); Oyster;
Grouper; Haddock; Halibut, Atlantic; Halibut, Pacific; Lake or Yellow
Perch; Lobster; Mackerel; Menhaden; Opah; Orange Roughy; Red Drum; Red
Snapper; Sablefish; Salmon, Atlantic; Salmon, Chinook; Salmon, Chum;
Salmon, Coho; Salmon, Pink; Salmon, Sockeye; Scallop; Sea bass; Sea
cucumber; Shrimp; Sharks; Sole; Squid; Sturgeon caviar; Swordfish;
Tilapia; Toothfish; Tunas (Albacore, Bigeye, Bluefin, Skipjack,
Yellowfin); Wahoo; Walleye (Alaskan) Pollock; Pacific Whiting.
Based on public comments received on the draft list of at-risk
species, the following eight additional species/species groups were
also analyzed according to the principles described above: Anchovies;
Eels; Flounder (Southern and Summer); Octopus; Queen Conch; Weakfish;
Skates and Rays.
Both imported and domestically-landed species were evaluated using
the same principles, data sources and methodology, as described below.
Principles were not weighted and were evaluated evenly. Additionally,
the Working Group considered the interaction of principles to be
important. For example, the interaction between the enforcement
capability, and history of violations was important when evaluating
species. The presence or absence of one principle (e.g., catch
documentation scheme) was not determinative in making the at-risk
assessment.
The following Federal agency offices contributed to the analysis of
the list of species: the Office of Marine Conservation, Bureau of
Oceans and International Environmental Affairs, Department of State;
Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and
Environment, Department of State; Office of International Affairs and
Seafood Inspection, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Department
of Commerce; Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service, NOAA, Department of Commerce; Office of Science and
Technology, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Department of
Commerce; Office of Law Enforcement, National Marine Fisheries Service,
NOAA, Department of Commerce; Office of General Counsel, Enforcement
Section, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and Office of General Counsel,
Fisheries and Protected Resources Section, NOAA, Department of
Commerce; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Department of
Homeland Security; Division of Seafood, Office of Food Safety, Food and
Drug Administration; Office of Analytics and Outreach, Food and Drug
Administration; Office of Compliance, Food and Drug Administration;
Office of Environment and Natural Resources, U.S. Trade Representative;
Office of General Counsel, U.S. Trade Representative. Resources from
these offices, including data and expertise, drove the analysis and
application of principles. Additional information used was from U.S.
government-verifiable sources, such as data gathered by Regional
Fisheries Management Organizations to which the United States is a
member and whose scientific data is developed and reviewed with active
U.S. government participation.
Sub-working groups composed of subject matter experts from the
agencies listed above were created to complete the analyses of each
species under each individual principle. The Working Group then
combined the analyses done by the sub-working groups to determine which
species were most at risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud. The Working
Group noted that the suite of risks posed to species varied not only in
terms of which risks affected which species, but also in terms of the
scale of the risks. For example, a single documented case of species
substitution for a species that is sold in high volumes was considered
differently than one case for a species rarely found in U.S. markets.
Additionally, as the Working Group discussed the suite of risks
associated with the principles, a relationship became evident between
the enforcement capability associated with a species and the history of
violations. In many cases, a history of violations was indicative of a
strong enforcement capability for a species. Conversely, for some
species, a lack of violations history may have been due to an in-
ability to detect or prosecute violations.
After the second round of public comment, the Working Group
reconvened to discuss the eight new species or species groups added to
the analysis in response to public comments plus new, relevant, U.S.
government-verifiable information from the past five years applicable
to species already analyzed. Based upon these discussions, the list of
species now deemed to be at risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud has
been modified from the draft list.
[[Page 66870]]
Species at Risk of IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud
The Working Group recognizes that all species of fish can be
susceptible to some risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud due to the
inherent complexities in the fishing industry and supply chain.
However, the species list has been developed to identify species for
which the current risks of IUU fishing or seafood fraud warrant
prioritization for the first phase of the traceability program.
Pursuant to the Action Plan, implementation of the first phase of the
traceability program will be regularly evaluated, beginning with a
report to be issued by December 2016, in order to determine ``whether
it is meeting the intended objectives and how it can be expanded to
provide more information to prevent seafood fraud and combat IUU
fishing.''
Based on its evaluation, the Working Group identified the following
list of species or species groups at risk of IUU fishing and seafood
fraud, in alphabetical order. (Appendix A to this final notice lists
the scientific names for these species and/or species groups.) Brief
summaries of the Working Group findings are presented here. Detailed
presentation of the data considered by the Working Group and its
deliberations is protected from disclosure because of data
confidentiality and enforcement implications.
Abalone: Abalone is considered to be at-risk due to enforcement
concerns. The fishery has a history of poaching, and there is a known
black market for this expensive seafood. The fishery is primarily
conducted by small vessels close to shore, and does not require
specialized gear, which makes it difficult to detect illegal harvest,
despite some enforcement capability. In addition to the IUU fishing
risks for abalone, there is a history of species substitution where
topshell is fraudulently marketed as abalone.
Atlantic Cod: Atlantic cod has been the subject of species
substitution with other white fish, and mislabeling due to over-glazing
(ice coating), and short-weighting. Despite enforcement capability,
Atlantic Cod have been targets of IUU fishing in parts of the
geographic range of the species. Additional IUU fishing risk is tied to
a lack of an effective catch documentation scheme throughout the
geographic range of fishing activity, despite rigorous reporting
requirements in some areas including the United States.
Blue Crab: Atlantic Blue crab is sold in a number of different
forms from live animals to significantly processed crab meat. In the
crabmeat product form species identification is only possible through
DNA testing. There is a strong history of both species substitution and
mislabeling. Blue crab has been substituted or co-mingled with swimming
crab, which is native to Southeast Asia. The mislabeling history is
largely associated with misidentification of product origin, with crab
from other locations sold as ``Maryland crab,'' although there have
also been incidents of short-weighting in the sale of crab meat.
Dolphinfish: Dolphinfish (also known as Mahi Mahi) is associated
with a lack of enforcement capability and lacks a catch documentation
scheme throughout the geographic range of fishing activity, which make
it vulnerable to IUU fishing. Some dolphinfish is transshipped prior to
entry into the United States, and there is concern over mislabeling
associated with product origin. In addition, there is a history of
species substitution, in which yellowtail flounder has been sold as
dolphinfish.
Grouper: Grouper refers to a group of species in the family
Serranidae that are legally fished and sold under the names grouper and
spotted grouper. Grouper, as a species group, has a history of
fisheries violations, and lacks a catch documentation scheme throughout
the geographic range of fishing activity for the species group.
Additionally, this global species is transshipped, and processed both
at the local level and at regionally-located or third-country
processing plants. Grouper has a strong history of species
substitution, including substitution using seafood that is of human
health concern, such as escolar (which has a Gempylotoxin hazard).
King Crab (red): King crab (red) has a significant history of
fisheries violations, and insufficient enforcement capability in some
parts of the world. Additional IUU fishing risk is tied to the lack of
an effective catch documentation scheme throughout the geographic range
of fishing activity, despite rigorous reporting requirements in some
areas, including the United States. King crab is at risk of seafood
fraud, mostly due to misrepresentation of product origin, as well as
some species substitution. Further, King crab is often transshipped
before entering the United States, which increases the IUU fishing and
seafood fraud risks.
Pacific cod: Pacific cod is a species at risk of IUU fishing
despite significant enforcement capability associated with this
fishery. Pacific cod is a target of global IUU fishing operators and
has a clear history of fishing violations. It is also subject to highly
globalized processing and transshipment. Additional IUU fishing risk is
tied to a lack of an effective catch documentation scheme throughout
the geographic range of fishing activity, despite rigorous reporting
requirements in some areas including the United States. In addition, as
with Atlantic cod, there is a history of species substitution using
other white fish and concerns over mislabeling associated with over-
glazing (ice coating) and short-weighting.
Red Snapper: Red Snapper is at risk of IUU fishing, based upon the
history of fisheries violations, as well as the lack of a catch
documentation scheme throughout the geographic range of fishing
activity, despite rigorous reporting requirements in some areas
including the United States. There are also enforcement capability
concerns for red snapper throughout the full geographic range of
fishing activity for the species. Additionally, there is a strong
history of species substitution with some of the substituted species
(e.g., rockfish, porgy, other snappers) presenting a risk to human
health due to parasites and natural toxins.
Sea Cucumber: Sea cucumber is an IUU fishing concern, due to the
lack of enforcement capability and known illegal harvesting and
smuggling associated with this species. This species also lacks a catch
documentation scheme throughout the geographic range of fishing
activity and is subject to a significant amount of transshipment.
Although sea cucumber is often sold live, it can also be processed into
a dried product for preservation. There are mislabeling concerns for
sea cucumber, often tied to falsification of shipping and export
documentation to conceal illegally-harvested product.
Sharks: ``Sharks,'' as included on the at-risk species list, refers
to a group of species that are often sold as fins, with some species
also sold as steaks or filets. Depending upon the product form,
differentiating between species in this broad group is a challenge
without identification guides or DNA testing. This led the Working
Group to group all shark species together to assess risks. Sharks as a
species group have a history of fishing violations because they are
processed and transshipped, and there is a lack of enforcement
capability throughout the geographic range of fishing activity. There
is a global trade in shark fins that is a known enforcement concern. In
addition to the IUU fishing risks associated with sharks, there are
fraud concerns tied to the sale of imitation shark fin, which has been
labeled as shark fin.
[[Page 66871]]
Shrimp: Shrimp is produced through both aquaculture and wild
harvest. The Working Group found that shrimp is at risk of IUU fishing
activity due to the history of fishery violations. Shrimp is also often
processed and co-mingled, which can make it vulnerable to seafood
fraud. There is a significant amount of mislabeling and/or
misrepresentation of shrimp, tied largely to misrepresentation of
weight, including where product has been treated with Sodium
Tripolyphosphate to increase water retention (the lack of labeling is
fraudulent, not the use of Sodium Tripolyphosphate). Mislabeling is
also a concern because aquacultured product is sometimes labeled as
wild caught and product origin is sometimes falsified. Additionally,
there is a history of substitution of one species of shrimp for another
when imports cross the border into the United States.
Swordfish: Swordfish are at risk of both IUU fishing and seafood
fraud. Swordfish are a highly migratory species and their range crosses
numerous jurisdictions, including the high seas. There is a history of
fisheries violations in certain swordfish fisheries and regions, in
addition to a lack of enforcement capability. The United States does,
however, implement a statistical document program for swordfish
pursuant to the International Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to help mitigate IUU fishing and seafood fraud
risk. This document is required for all swordfish product entering the
United States, regardless of the product form or ocean area where it
was harvested, although it does not provide the full range of
information that would likely be expected in a traceability program,
particularly for fish harvested outside the Atlantic, which are not a
part of the program. Swordfish is commonly transshipped and is also at
risk of species substitution with mako shark.
Tunas: Tunas are a high volume and high value species group that
includes five main species: Albacore, bigeye, skipjack, yellowfin, and
the bluefins. There is a history of fisheries violations in certain
tuna fisheries and in certain regions. Further, harvesting,
transshipment, and trade patterns for tunas can be complex, in
particular for certain value-added products. While there are
multilateral management and reporting measures in place for many stocks
within the tuna species group, these management and reporting
mechanisms vary in terms of information standards and requirements and
some do not provide a complete catch documentation scheme. Tunas are
also subject to complicated processing that includes comingling of
species and transshipments. Further, there is a history of some species
substitutions, with most instances involving substitution of one tuna
species for another. Additionally, there have also been instances of
escolar, which can contain a toxin, being substituted for albacore
tuna.
The Working Group sought public comment specifically on how to
narrow the scope of tunas on the list of at-risk species. Public
comment received highlighted that the risk levels vary greatly
depending on species. The Working Group further discussed the
variability of the risk levels for IUU fishing and seafood fraud on a
species by species basis. The Working Group has determined that Bluefin
tuna species are at a lower risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud than
other tuna species and has determined that it should not be included on
the list of at-risk species. This decision reflects our conclusion that
two of the principles analyzed demonstrate that there is a lower risk
of IUU and seafood fraud as compared to other tunas. First, there are
robust catch documentation scheme in place for Atlantic bluefin tuna
and Southern bluefin tuna entering the U.S. market, which are
implemented through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations.
Bluefin tuna was historically a target of IUU fishing and thus had a
catch documentation scheme implemented for two of the three species
world-wide, which are the two species comprising the vast majority of
Bluefin that enters U.S. Commerce. A catch documentation scheme is
under development for Pacific Bluefin tuna. The existing catch
documentation scheme for Bluefin tuna does not eliminate all risk of
IUU fishing, but it mitigates the risk to a low level. Second, Bluefin
tuna does not have the history of species substitution that other tunas
have, in part because of its different color and texture compared to
other tunas, as well as the sophistication of Bluefin buyers, in
discerning Bluefin from other fish. Although the Working Group
recognizes that there may be further variance in risk level among the
three Bluefin species, we have chosen to remove all three stocks, so as
not to create any incentive for new species substitution schemes among
the three Bluefin species.
Programs To Mitigate Risk
Through the application of the principles for determining at-risk
species, the Working Group identified two species--toothfish and
catfish--that had a number of risk factors for IUU fishing or seafood
fraud but, due to mechanisms to address those risks, are not being
listed as at-risk species in this Notice.
Toothfish has been known, historically, as a species with IUU
fishing concerns, which led to the development, by the Commission for
the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), of a
number of monitoring tools including a comprehensive catch
documentation scheme. Without the existing level of reporting,
documentation, and enforcement capability, including through measures
adopted by CCAMLR, for this species, the Working Group would have found
it to be at-risk.
The Working Group found that while existing measures do not
eliminate risk for toothfish, they mitigate the IUU fishing and seafood
fraud risks to such a level that the Working Group is not listing
toothfish as an at-risk species for the first phase of the traceability
program.
In the United States, seafood sold as catfish must be from the
family Ictaluridae per section 403(t) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(t)). There is a strong history of species
substitution, in which non-Ictaluridae species are sold as catfish.
Some of this species substitution has been tied to Siluriformes
species, which could have a drug hazard associated with them, as well
as other species that have been found contaminated with prohibited
chemicals and pharmaceuticals. In addition to species substitution,
there is a history of other mislabeling issues, including product
origin and failure to accurately label product that has been treated
with carbon monoxide.
These risks were discussed and are fully recognized by the Working
Group. However, there is a rulemaking on catfish inspection (https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201410&RIN=0583-AD36)
under development, separate from the NOC Committee and Working Group
actions. Once in effect, this pending rulemaking may mitigate risks
identified by the Working Group. Taking into consideration the
underlying principle of the Task Force to maximize the use of existing
resources and expertise from across the federal government through
increased federal agency collaboration, the Working Group did not
include catfish on this initial list of at-risk species.
[[Page 66872]]
Summary of Comments in Response to Draft Principles and Draft List of
At-Risk Species (80 FR 45955, August 3, 2015)
In response to the August 3, 2015, Federal Register notice
(described above), and following outreach to foreign nations, the
Working Group received 101 unique written comments from fishing
industry groups both domestic and abroad, non-governmental
organizations, foreign nations, and interested citizens. The comments
covered a breadth of issues pertaining to seafood traceability. The
Working Group considered all public comments, and has provided
responses to all relevant issues raised by comments below. We have not
responded to comments that were outside the scope of the public comment
request and that may be more relevant to future steps in the process,
e.g., the pending rulemaking on the design and implementation of the
traceability system.
1. Decision-making Transparency
Comment: The Working Group received numerous public comments
requesting additional information on what data was used in making the
species risk determinations, as well as what experts were a part of the
process.
Response: This notice specifies all government offices that
contributed data and expertise. The data came from across the U.S.
Federal government and included government-verifiable data, such as
that of certain Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. As noted
earlier, details of the results have not been included because much of
the data reviewed are sensitive and/or confidential, and could
compromise the integrity of individual businesses, systems or
enforcement capability if released.
2. Approach for Analysis Should Be Quantitative
Comment: We received comment that the application of principles
should be quantitative, and use numbers and a systematic data driven
approach.
Response: The Working Group partially agrees. We used systems and
expertise to apply the principles for determining seafood species at-
risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud evenly, and did not give any
individual principle more weight than another. The application of these
principles was not entirely quantitative, however, as some of the
information we used was not quantitative. Incidents of illegal fishing
and incidents of fraudulent activity vary in scope and scale from one
to the next and the differences cannot be numerically calculated.
3. Data Used Should Be From a Longer Time Period
Comment: The Working Group received public comment that a longer
time horizon would afford more data on violations and more ability to
see trends over time.
Response: The Working Group agrees that looking at a longer time
horizon would produce more data from the databases utilized; however it
would potentially decrease the accuracy of the determination regarding
current risk. There have been efforts made in most fisheries to
decrease the level of risk, and the Working Group does not think that
data from further back than five years accurately depicts the current
status of fisheries.
4. Using Additional Authorities
Comment: Comment was received regarding the legal authorities for
the rulemaking and regulatory process that will implement a seafood
traceability program for the species listed as at-risk.
Response: This comment is outside the scope of this public comment
request. The rulemaking process will provide an opportunity for public
comment on the proposed seafood traceability program and this comment
would be more appropriately directed toward that process.
5. Country Specific Risk/Country of Origin Based
Comment: The Working Group received numerous comments, including
from many foreign nations that species risk should be tied to country
of origin.
Response: The Working Group acknowledges that the risk of IUU
fishing will vary depending on the origin of catch and country of
processing. However, the Working Group used enforcement capability and
history of fisheries violations when determining the at-risk species to
capture this element of the risk analysis because these more directly
represent risk. These principles already take into account fisheries
identified in NOAA's biennial report to Congress as implicated in IUU
fishing (see 16 U.S.C. 1826h). In addition, the Working Group does not
believe it is useful or appropriate to establish a principle based on
country of origin.
6. Vessel Specific
Comment: The Working Group received a comment that the risk level
and the application of the traceability program should be vessel
specific, as that is the appropriate level at which to assess risk.
Response: The Working Group used history of fisheries violations as
a principle, which covers incidents from all vessels.
7. Equality
Comment: Numerous comments were received regarding equality. The
majority of the comments received were tied to equality from one nation
to another. These comments included requests that countries be treated
equally in the analysis for identifying at-risk species, as well as
comments outside of the scope of this comment request, pertaining to
the equal and evenhanded implementation of the pending traceability
program.
Response: The Working Group applied each of the principles for
determining risk level evenly and equally. The principles were applied
equally to domestically-landed species and imported species.
8. IUU Fishing Should Be Separate From Seafood Fraud
Comment: The working group received a couple of comments that
seafood fraud and IUU fishing are separate and should be analyzed as
such.
Response: The Working Group agrees and recognizes the difference
between IUU fishing and seafood fraud. We recognize that, for example,
they may occur at different points in the supply chain from harvest to
entry into U.S. commerce; however the Working Group believes they are a
part of the same system. The Working Group developed principles,
informed by public comment, which are specific to the different
components. For example, under the principles applied by the Working
Group, the history of fishery violations is specific to the concept of
IUU fishing, whereas species misrepresentation is specific to seafood
fraud. When analyzing a species, the Working Group applied each
principle individually and then analyzed the resulting findings across
the supply chain for both IUU fishing and seafood fraud.
9. Enforcement of Existing Laws
Comment: Public comment encouraged the enforcement and application
of existing laws before creating new laws.
Response: This notice, which identifies at-risk species, does not,
in and of itself, create any new legal requirements. Establishment of
the seafood traceability program through a future rulemaking, as well
as the resources devoted to implementation of
[[Page 66873]]
current laws, are outside the scope of this comment request.
10. Combatting IUU Fishing Requires Focus on Flag State, Port State,
and Market State
Comment: The Working Group received comment that proposing a list
of at-risk species and the following implementation of a seafood
traceability program focuses solely on the market drivers of IUU
fishing and seafood fraud, and does not approach Flag State and Port
State measures. The commenter stated that all three are critical
components to combatting IUU fishing and seafood fraud, and that a
narrow focus would limit effectiveness.
Response: The Presidential Task Force on Combatting IUU Fishing and
Seafood Fraud Action Plan contains 15 recommendations. This series of
Federal Register notices pertained only to one component of
recommendation 15, the identification of principles for determining at-
risk species and the initial list of at-risk species. Other Task Force
recommendations focus on Flag State and Port State measures, from
actions on enforcement capacity building to working on obtaining entry
into force of the Port State Measures Agreement.
11. Biological Vulnerability/Overfished/Overfishing Should Be a
Principle
Comment: The Working Group received comments requesting that a
principle for determining at-risk species be tied to the biological
vulnerability and/or status of a species. Commenters note that as a
species is overfished, the risk of IUU fishing can increase.
Response: The Working Group acknowledges that the sustainability of
fisheries resources is a priority for NOAA under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Some vulnerable species identified in public comments such as sharks,
sturgeon caviar, and abalone were added to the base list and analyzed
by the Working Group. The Working Group agrees that as legal catch
limits on a species are tightened, the incentive for IUU fishing often
increases. However, the main focus of this process is to identify
species at risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud and enforcement
capability and history of violations are better indicators of IUU
fishing risk than species sustainability.
12. Gear-Type
Comment: The Working Group received a comment that the risk of IUU
fishing is tied to gear type, and that gear type should be a principle
for determining at-risk species.
Response: The Working Group acknowledges that fishing gear used in
IUU fishing can sometimes include illegal gear types that are
indiscriminate and can have higher environmental impacts than legal
gear types. However, the Working Group does not believe that gear type
alone is a sufficiently strong determinant of IUU fishing or seafood
fraud risk, and use of illegal gear types was covered through the
information collected on enforcement capability and history of
violations.
13. Human Rights and/or Human Trafficking Concern
Comment: Numerous comments were received recommending that a
history of human rights violations or human trafficking concerns should
be a principle used to identify species at risk of IUU fishing and
seafood fraud.
Response: Human rights and human trafficking are issues in the
fishing industry that warrant consideration and action, but are not in
and of themselves determinative of IUU fishing and seafood fraud. The
Administration is addressing these issues in a variety of ways. On
March 15, 2012, President Obama called on his cabinet to strengthen
federal efforts to combat human trafficking and to expand partnerships
with civil society and the private sector. The President's Interagency
Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) and its
operational arm, the Senior Policy Operating Group (SPOG), bring
together federal departments and agencies to ensure a whole-of-
government approach that addresses all aspects of human trafficking--
enforcement of criminal and labor laws, development of victim
identification and protection measures, support for innovations in data
gathering and research, education and public awareness, enhanced
partnerships and research opportunities, and strategically linked
foreign assistance and diplomatic engagement. For more information on
the Administration's effort to combat Trafficking of Persons, please
visit https://www.state.gov/j/tip/response/usg/ response/usg/.
14. Transparency of Vessel Ownership
Comment: The Working Group received comment recommending that the
transparency of vessel ownership be used as a principle for determining
species at risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud. The comment suggests
that convoluted vessel ownership and flags of convenience are often
tied to IUU fishing.
Response: The Working Group agrees with the potential correlation
between vessel ownership transparency and the potential for IUU
fishing. This was addressed in the Working Group's discussions about
enforcement capability; however there is not sufficient data available
to analyze this as a principle for determining at-risk species.
15. Complex Chain of Custody
Comment: The Working Group received multiple comments on using the
complexity of the chain of custody as a principle for determining IUU
fishing risk. Many commenters agreed with the inclusion of this as a
principle, while another group suggested there was no connection
between IUU fishing and chain-of-custody complexity. The latter group
requested more information on the relationship between the level of
processing or chain-of-custody complexity and the risk of IUU fishing.
We also received public comment stating that the two are not related,
and thus this principle should not be used to determine at-risk
species.
Response: The Working Group does not believe that a complex chain
of custody or high level of processing necessarily signifies fraudulent
product or a connection to IUU fishing. In the more complex chains of
custody, however, there are more opportunities for mixing illegally
caught fish with legally caught fish, and for mislabeling, thereby
increasing the risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud. Transshipments
make tracking the chain of custody harder and present opportunities to
commingle legally and illegally caught fish. Seafood that undergoes a
high amount of processing and enters U.S. Commerce through a long chain
of custody may often be legal and not fraudulent, but that does not
negate the increased risk. Therefore, the Working Group had retained
complexity in the chain of custody as a principle for determining at-
risk species.
16. Harmful Antibiotics and Human Health Risk
Comment: The Working Group received comment requesting that in the
application of the human health risk principle, we extend our
assessment of risk to harmful antibiotic use.
Response: The application of the human health risk principle did
include the use of harmful or unlawful antibiotic use. This principle
does not, however, include the use of legal and non-harmful antibiotic
use in aquaculture practice.
[[Page 66874]]
17. Weighting of Principles
Comment: The Working Group received public comment both requesting
clarification on whether we weighted some principles more heavily than
others, as well as comment requesting that we do so.
Response: The Working Group considered all of the principles
without giving weights to them. The discussion for each species
evaluated covered all of the principles and the findings associated for
each, and the Working Group reviewed the suite of risks as a whole
picture, without any one principle having a designated higher level of
importance.
18. Number of Species
Comment: The Working Group received comments requesting both that
all species be part of the first phase of the pending traceability
program as well as comments requesting that the list of at-risk species
be limited to two to three species.
Response: The Action Plan specifies that the Working Group is to
prioritize species at risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud in the
first phase of a seafood traceability program that could eventually be
expanded to cover all species. As directed by the Task Force, the
Working Group completed a data driven analysis and listed species
determined to be most at risk of IUU fishing or seafood fraud. This
exercise was not predicated on creating a list with a certain number of
species, rather the focus was on the most at-species, regardless of the
numerical results.
19. The Substitute Species Should Be Tracked (e.g., Blue Swimming Crab)
Comment: Public comment received recommended that the traceability
program track both the at-risk species and the species that are
substitutes for those targets. For example, Atlantic Blue Crab is on
the list of at-risk species, in part because Blue Swimmer Crab is known
to be mislabeled and fraudulently marketed under the Atlantic Blue Crab
name. The recommendation from public comment is that both are at-risk
of seafood fraud and, therefore, both the target and the substitute
should be tracked.
Response: The Working Group believes that the species at risk of
fraud is the one that other species are used to imitate and that, at
this time, tracking of the target species is the most efficient
approach.
20. Aquaculture Species
Comment: Commenters requested that aquaculture species be exempt
from the pending traceability program, and removed from the list of at-
risk species because aquacultured species are not subject to IUU
fishing.
Response: Both wild caught and aquacultured seafood can be at risk
of seafood fraud (e.g., farmed shrimp mislabeled as wild-caught) and
therefore both are included on the list of at-risk species.
21. Consistency and Coordination With the Marine Mammal Rule
Comment: Public comment was received regarding the relationship
between this list of at-risk species, the pending seafood traceability
program, and the proposed rulemaking promulgated under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The proposed MMPA rule aims to reduce
marine mammal bycatch associated with commercial fishing operations.
Under the proposed MMPA rule, nations wishing to export fish and fish
products to the United States must demonstrate they have a regulatory
program for reducing marine mammal incidental mortality and serious
injury that is comparable in effectiveness to the U.S. program.
Response: The MMPA proposed rulemaking is focused on reducing
marine mammal bycatch, unlike this Federal Register Notice, which
identifies species at risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud. However,
NOAA recognizes the importance of ensuring that its programs are
consistent and coordinated.
22. ``High Volume,'' ``High Visibility''
Comment: A commenter requested clarification regarding the meaning
of the terms ``high volume'' and ``high visibility'' species when
referring to tunas, in the Federal Register notice with the draft list
of at-risk species.
Response: In using those terms, the Working Group was trying to
highlight that this is a popular group of species in the U.S. market.
Tuna is a high volume import, and the text should have read that is it
also a ``high value'' species.
23. Use Scientific Names
Comment: The Working Group received numerous comments requesting
that scientific names be used to in the list of at-risk species, for
greater clarity.
Response: The Working Group agrees with this comment, and has
included an appendix of the scientific names for the at-risk species.
24. Government Resources
Comment: Comments were received recommending that the U.S.
government contribute adequate resources both domestically and in
capacity building abroad to implement the pending traceability program
effectively. A separate comment was also received stating that no
additional government resources should be spent on implementing the
pending program.
Response: Implementation of the seafood traceability program is
outside the scope of this Federal Register Notice, however, the Working
Group notes that the Action Plan does not call for additional
government resources for this effort.
25. United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Catch
Documentation Scheme
Comment: The Working Group received comment that FAO has begun
discussions about implementing a catch documentation scheme and that we
should use their deliberations to inform our pending program.
Response: The traceability program as outlined in the Action Plan
is to be in at least two parts. The first phase applies to species most
at risk of IUU fishing and seafood fraud and, by December 2016, an
evaluation of the program will be conducted to inform a possible
program expansion to all species. The FAO deliberations, if
contemporary to the predetermined timeline for the U.S. program, could
prove useful, as could additional work being contemplated by the FAO
related specifically to traceability.
26. Existing Efforts To Combat IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud
Comment: The public comment highlighted the importance of not
duplicating efforts of existing programs and enforcement that target
IUU fishing and seafood fraud.
Response: The Working Group agrees, and the Presidential Task Force
to Combat IUU Fishing and Seafood Fraud and the Action Plan both
support the idea of coordination, not duplication.
27. Third Party Certification
Comment: The Working Group received public comment requesting
clarification on whether third party certification (e.g., Marine
Stewardship Council) would exempt product from the pending seafood
traceability program. Comment was also received recommending that
product should be exempt if it is certified by a third party.
Response: Implementation of the traceability program, including any
potential exemptions, is beyond the mandate of the Working Group and
outside the scope of this Federal Register Notice. It will be addressed
in
[[Page 66875]]
the forthcoming rulemaking related to the traceability program.
28. Fraud in the United States
Comment: The Working Group received comments on the level of fraud
that happens with seafood inside U.S. commerce, once seafood has
entered into our markets. Comments requested information on how the
pending traceability program will address the amount of fraud that
happens once seafood is inside U.S. markets.
Response: The scope of the traceability program is beyond the
mandate of the Working Group and outside the scope of this Federal
Register Notice. It will be addressed in the forthcoming rulemaking
related to the traceability program.
29. Chain of Custody Principle Discriminates Against Imports
Comment: One commenter noted that using complex chain of custody as
a principle will discriminate against imports.
Response: The Working Group disagrees. The Working Group considered
the frequency of transshipment, complexity of processing, and
complexity of the supply chain (especially with respect to the
potential for fish to be comingled) equally for domestically-harvested
and imported fish.
30. Carbon Monoxide
Comment: One comment was received concerning the use of carbon
monoxide to improve the color of fish to make it appear fresh. The
commenter was concerned that this practice creates an unfair market for
local seafood that is fresh and untreated with carbon monoxide. Another
commenter was concerned about our inclusion of carbon monoxide as an
example of fraud, as it is legal to use.
Response: The Working Group recognizes the concerns raised by these
comments. The use of carbon monoxide is legal; however, the product
must be labeled appropriately. The mislabeling principle addressed the
fraudulent practice of failing to properly label product that has been
treated.
31. Tripolyphosphate
Comment: The Working Group received a comment that expressed
concern about our inclusion of Tripolyphosphate as an example of fraud
associated with shrimp, as it is legal to use.
Response: The Working Group recognizes the concerns raised by these
comments. The use of Tripolyphosphate is legal; however, the product
must be labeled appropriately. The mislabeling principle addressed the
fraudulent practice of failing to properly label product that has been
treated.
Canned Tuna
Comment: Public comments noted that the majority of tuna in the
United States is from canning companies that have industry-run
traceability programs for contamination and human health reasons and
thus have a lower level of IUU fishing and fraud risk.
Response: The Working Group agrees that some canned tuna may have a
lower level of IUU fishing and seafood fraud risk than other product
forms. This is based both upon the existence and potential
effectiveness of industry led traceability programs for canned tuna,
and the fact that canned product that enters U.S. commerce as ``dolphin
safe,'' is required to have a statement from the captain of the harvest
vessel thus tying the product to the harvest vessel. The Working Group
notes that the potentially lower level of risk for canned tuna products
could be considered in the application of the data collections
requirements of the forthcoming proposed traceability program or be
addressed through the voluntary Trusted Trader Program to be developed
by the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security per
Recommendations 14 and 15 of the Action Plan.
32. Bioterrorism Act of 2002
Comment: The Working Group received a comment requesting
clarification on the relationship between the pending traceability
program and this Bioterrorism Act of 2002.
Response: The Bioterrorism Act of 2002 required FDA to establish
requirements for the creation and maintenance of records needed to
determine the immediate previous sources and the immediate subsequent
recipients of food, (i.e., one up, one down). Such records are to allow
FDA to address credible threats of serious adverse health consequences
or death to humans or animals. Entities subject to these provisions are
those that manufacture, process, pack, transport, distribute, receive,
hold or import food. Farms and restaurants are exempt from these
requirements.
To carry out this provision in the Bioterrorism Act, the Food
Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was enacted and it included enhancing
tracking and tracing of food and recordkeeping. Under FSMA, FDA,
working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State
agencies, has established two product tracing pilot projects carried
out by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). The projects will
help determine which data are most needed to trace a product that is in
the market back to a common source and, once the contaminated
ingredient is identified, to trace the product forward to know where it
has been distributed. IFT has recommended steps for traceability
improvement, and the information is still under review and we cannot
make any comparative analyses.
33. Cooked Seafood
Comment: The Working Group received comment requesting
clarification as to whether the pending seafood traceability program
would extend to cooked seafood, which is exempted from the Country of
Origin Labeling (COOL) protocols.
Response: The product types that will be a part of the program will
be delineated in the traceability rule-making process and are beyond
the scope of this Federal Register Notice.
34. Base List of Species
Comment: The Working Group received a public comment that the base
list of species examined was skewed toward high value species, and the
focus should be broadened to include mass-market fish.
Response: Initially the Working Group looked at both high value and
high volume fisheries, but many of the high volume fisheries were also
high value fisheries. Generally the only high volume fisheries that did
not meet the value threshold were from bait fish fisheries. Therefore,
the Working Group concluded a separate look at high volume fisheries
was not useful. There were a number of lower value, but higher volume
(mass market), stocks analyzed using the standards noted as part of the
base list. However, the level of risk associated with many of them did
not warrant having them on a list of species at risk of IUU fishing and
seafood fraud.
35. European Union (EU) IUU Seafood Certification
Comment: A number of comments included discussion of the EU
approach to combatting IUU fishing, which is country-of-origin based,
rather than species-based.
Response: The Working Group is implementing the recommendations of
the Presidential Task Force on Combatting IUU fishing and Seafood
Fraud, which outlines a species specific approach as the basis for the
first phase of the traceability scheme. As noted above, the Working
Group does not believe it is appropriate to establish a
[[Page 66876]]
principle based on country of origin. In addition, the U.S. government
does not have active involvement with the EU country-based IUU fishing
risk identification system. Therefore, the Working Group did not
include a principle that would identify at-risk species based on
whether they are associated with nations that have been issued a yellow
or red card under the EU system. However, to the extent available,
information generated or collected pursuant to the EU system that could
be relevant to other principles used by the Working Group, such as
enforcement capability and history of fisheries violations for specific
species, was considered.
36. Additional Species
Comment: The Working Group received many comments requesting that
additional species be added to the list of at-risk species. The
additional species requested included: Anchovies, All Snappers, Eels,
Flounder, Lobster, Mackerel, Pollock, Octopus, Salmon, Skates & Rays,
Snow Crab, Squid, Totoaba, and Weakfish.
Response: Lobster, Mackerel, Pollock, Salmon, Snow crab, and Squid
were evaluated by the Working Group previously. The Working Group has
confirmed that its earlier assessment of the species was accurate.
Specific to the requests to have all snappers on the list, the Working
Group determined that the species that is most at-risk for IUU fishing
and seafood fraud is Red Snapper, and that the other snappers are
generally used as a substitute for Red Snapper. Thus the Working Group
did not expand the at-risk species to include all snappers. Totoaba,
was requested for addition through public comment, but was not
evaluated. Totoaba is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species
Act (ESA), and is listed in Appendix 1 of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) as threatened with extinction. This listing eliminates legal
trade and negates the need for including Totoaba on the list of at-risk
species.
The Working Group reviewed the following additional species, as
suggested through public comments: Anchovies; Eels; Flounder (Southern
and Summer); Octopus; Queen Conch; Weakfish; Skates and Rays. All of
these species were evaluated using the same principles and methodology
applied to the previously analyzed species. The Working Group did not
find enough risk across the suite of principles to warrant adding any
of the newly suggested species to the final list of at-risk species.
37. Emphasis on Unregulated and Unreported Catch
Comment: A comment was received suggesting the Working Group needed
to increase attention on unregulated and unreported catch, while
another comment suggested the Working Group needed to pay less
attention to unregulated and unreported catch.
Response: Illegal, unregulated and unreported catch all have
negative impacts on the sustainability of fisheries and on legal
fishing businesses across the world. In its analysis, the Working Group
took into consideration unregulated and unreported catch concerns.
Appendix 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scientific name (to
Common genus or to species) Family Order
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
abalone.............................. Haliotis spp........... Haliotidae............. GASTROPODA.
albacore............................. Thunnus alalunga....... Scombridae............. SCOMBROIDEI.
Atlantic cod......................... Gadus morhua........... Gadidae................ GADIFORMES.
bigeye tuna.......................... Thunnus obesus......... Scombridae............. SCOMBROIDEI.
blue crab............................ Callinectes sapidus.... Portunidae............. BRACHYURA.
dolphinfish.......................... Coryphaena hippurus.... Coryphaenidae.......... PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Aethaloperca spp....... Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Anyperodon spp......... Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Caprodon spp........... Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Cephalopholis spp...... Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Cromileptes spp........ Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Dermatolepis spp....... Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Diplectrum spp......... Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Epinephelus spp........ Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Gracila spp............ Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Hyporthodus spp........ Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Mycteroperca spp....... Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Plectropomus spp....... Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Saloptia spp........... Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Triso spp.............. Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
groupers............................. Variola spp............ Serranidae............. PERCOIDEI.
Pacific cod.......................... Gadus macrocephalus.... Gadidae................ GADIFORMES.
red king crab........................ Paralithodes Lithodidae............. ANOMURA.
camtschaticus.
red snapper.......................... Lutjanus campechanus... Lutjanidae............. PERCOIDEI.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Sea Cucumber Species, including the below list from the Food and Agricultural Organization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sea cucumber......................... Actinopyga spp......... Holothuriidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Apostichopus spp....... Stichopodidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Astichopus spp......... Stichopodidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Athyonidium spp........ Cucumariidae........... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Australostichopus spp.. Stichopodidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Bohadschia spp......... Holothuriidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Cucumaria spp.......... Cucumariidae........... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Heterocucumis spp...... Cucumariidae........... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Holothuria spp......... Holothuriidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Isostichopus spp....... Stichopodidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Molpadia spp........... Molpadiidae............ HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Paradota spp........... Chiridotidae........... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Parastichopus spp...... Stichopodidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
[[Page 66877]]
sea cucumber......................... Pearsonothuria spp..... Holothuriidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Pseudocnus spp......... Cucumariidae........... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Pseudostichopus spp.... Synallactidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Psolidium spp.......... Psolidae............... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Psolus spp............. Psolidae............... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Staurocucumis spp...... Cucumariidae........... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Stichopus spp.......... Stichopodidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Thelenota spp.......... Stichopodidae.......... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
sea cucumber......................... Trachythyone spp....... Cucumariidae........... HOLOTHUROIDEA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Shark Species (excluding skates and rays), including the below list from the Food and Agricultural
Organization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sharks............................... Aculeola spp........... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Alopias spp............ Alopiidae.............. LAMNIFORMES.
sharks............................... Apristurus spp......... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Asymbolus spp.......... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Atelomycterus spp...... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Aulohalaelurus spp..... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Brachaelurus spp....... Brachaeluridae......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Carcharhinus spp....... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Carcharias spp......... Odontaspididae......... LAMNIFORMES.
sharks............................... Carcharodon spp........ Lamnidae............... LAMNIFORMES.
sharks............................... Centrophorus spp....... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Centroscyllium spp..... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Centroscymnus spp...... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Cephaloscyllium spp.... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Cephalurus spp......... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Cetorhinus spp......... Cetorhinidae........... LAMNIFORMES.
sharks............................... Chaenogaleus spp....... Hemigaleidae........... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Chiloscyllium spp...... Hemiscylliidae......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Chlamydoselachus spp... Chlamydoselachidae..... HEXANCHIFORMES.
sharks............................... Cirrhigaleus spp....... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Cirrhoscyllium spp..... Parascylliidae......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Ctenacis spp........... Proscylliidae.......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Dalatias spp........... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Deania spp............. Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Echinorhinus spp....... Echinorhinidae......... SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Eridacnis spp.......... Proscylliidae.......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Etmopterus spp......... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Eucrossorhinus spp..... Orectolobidae.......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Euprotomicroides spp... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Euprotomicrus spp...... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Eusphyra spp........... Sphyrnidae............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Furgaleus spp.......... Triakidae.............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Galeocerdo spp......... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Galeorhinus spp........ Triakidae.............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Galeus spp............. Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Ginglymostoma spp...... Ginglymostomatidae..... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Glyphis spp............ Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Gogolia spp............ Triakidae.............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Gollum spp............. Pseudotriakidae........ CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Halaelurus spp......... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Haploblepharus spp..... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Hemigaleus spp......... Hemigaleidae........... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Hemipristis spp........ Hemigaleidae........... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Hemiscyllium spp....... Hemiscylliidae......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Hemitriakis spp........ Triakidae.............. CARCHARHINIFORMES
sharks............................... Heptranchias spp....... Hexanchidae............ HEXANCHIFORMES.
sharks............................... Heterodontus spp....... Heterodontidae......... HETERODONTIFORMES.
sharks............................... Heteroscyllium spp..... Brachaeluridae......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Heteroscymnoides spp... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Hexanchus spp.......... Hexanchidae............ HEXANCHIFORMES.
sharks............................... Holohalaelurus spp..... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Hypogaleus spp......... Triakidae.............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Iago spp............... Triakidae.............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Isistius spp........... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Isogomphodon spp....... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Isurus spp............. Lamnidae............... LAMNIFORMES.
sharks............................... Lamiopsis spp.......... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Lamna spp.............. Lamnidae............... LAMNIFORMES.
sharks............................... Leptocharias spp....... Leptochariidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Loxodon spp............ Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Megachasma spp......... Megachasmidae.......... LAMNIFORMES.
[[Page 66878]]
sharks............................... Mitsukurina spp........ Mitsukurinidae......... LAMNIFORMES.
sharks............................... Mustelus spp........... Triakidae.............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Nasolamia spp.......... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Nebrius spp............ Ginglymostomatidae..... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Negaprion spp.......... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Notorynchus spp........ Hexanchidae/ HEXANCHIFORMES.
Notorynchidae.
sharks............................... Odontaspis spp......... Odontaspididae......... LAMNIFORMES.
sharks............................... Orectolobus spp........ Orectolobidae.......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Oxynotus spp........... Oxynotidae............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Paragaleus spp......... Hemigaleidae........... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Parascyllium spp....... Parascylliidae......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Parmaturus spp......... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Pentanchus spp......... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Pliotrema spp.......... Pristiophoridae........ PRISTIOPHORIFORMES.
sharks............................... Poroderma spp.......... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Prionace spp........... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Pristiophorus spp...... Pristiophoridae........ PRISTIOPHORIFORMES.
sharks............................... Proscyllium spp........ Proscylliidae.......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Pseudocarcharias spp... Pseudocarchariidae..... LAMNIFORMES.
sharks............................... Pseudotriakis spp...... Pseudotriakidae........ CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Rhincodon spp.......... Rhincodontidae......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Rhizoprionodon spp..... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Schroederichthys spp... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Scoliodon spp.......... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Scyliorhinus spp....... Scyliorhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Scylliogaleus spp...... Triakidae.............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Scymnodalatias spp..... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Scymnodon spp.......... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Somniosus spp.......... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Sphyrna spp............ Sphyrnidae............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Squaliolus spp......... Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Squalus spp............ Squalidae.............. SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Squatina spp........... Squatinidae............ SQUALIFORMES.
sharks............................... Stegostoma spp......... Stegostomatidae........ ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Sutorectus spp......... Orectolobidae.......... ORECTOLOBIFORMES.
sharks............................... Triaenodon spp......... Carcharhinidae......... CARCHARHINIFORMES.
sharks............................... Triakis spp............ Triakidae.............. CARCHARHINIFORMES.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Shrimp Species in the Order Decapoda, including the below list from the Food and Agricultural Organization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
shrimps.............................. Acanthephyra spp....... Oplophoridae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Acetes spp............. Sergestidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Alpheus spp............ Alpheidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Argis spp.............. Crangonidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Aristaeomorpha spp..... Aristaeidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Aristaeopsis spp....... Crangonidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Aristeus spp........... Aristaeidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Artemesia spp.......... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Atya spp............... Atyidae................ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Atyopsis spp........... Atyidae................ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Atypopenaeus spp....... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Bentheogennema spp..... Benthesicymidae........ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Benthesicymus spp...... Benthesicymidae........ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Campylonotus spp....... Campylonotidae......... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Caridina spp........... Atyidae................ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Chlorotocus spp........ Pandalidae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Crangon spp............ Crangonidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Cryphiops spp.......... Palaemonidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Cryptopenaeus spp...... Solenoceridae.......... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Dichelopandalus spp.... Pandalidae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Eualus spp............. Hippolytidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Exhippolysmata spp..... Hippolytidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Exopalaemon spp........ Palaemonidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Farfantepenaeus spp Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
(now Penaeus).
shrimps.............................. Fenneropenaeus spp (now Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
Penaeus).
shrimps.............................. Glyphocrangon spp...... Glyphocrangonidae...... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Glyphus spp............ Pasiphaeidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Hadropenaeus spp....... Solenoceridae.......... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Haliporoides spp....... Solenoceridae.......... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Heptacarpus spp........ Hippolytidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Heterocarpoides spp.... Pandalidae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Heterocarpus spp....... Pandalidae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Holthuispenaeopsis spp. Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
[[Page 66879]]
shrimps.............................. Hymenocera spp......... Gnatophyllidae......... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Hymenodora spp......... Oplophoridae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Hymenopenaeus spp...... Solenoceridae.......... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Latreutes spp.......... Hippolytidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Leandrites spp......... Palaemonidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Leptocarpus spp........ Palaemonidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Leptochela spp......... Pasiphaeidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Lipkebe spp............ Palaemonidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Lipkius spp............ Nematocarcinidae....... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Litopenaeus spp........ Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Lysmata spp............ Hippolytidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Macrobrachium spp...... Palaemonidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Macropetasma spp....... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Marsupenaeus spp....... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Melicertus spp......... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Mesopaeneus spp........ Solenoceridae.......... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Metacrangon spp........ Crangonidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Metapenaeopsis spp..... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Metapenaeus spp........ Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Microprosthema spp..... Stenopodidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Nematocarcinus spp..... Nematocarcinidae....... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Nematopalaemon spp..... Palaemonidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Notocrangon spp........ Crangonidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Notostomus spp......... Oplophoridae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Ogyrides spp........... Ogyrididae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Oplophorus spp......... Oplophoridae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Palaemon spp........... Palaemonidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Palaemonetes spp....... Palaemonidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Pandalopsis spp........ Pandalidae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Pandalus spp........... Pandalidae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Pantomus spp........... Pandalidae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Paracrangon spp........ Crangonidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Parapandalus spp....... Pandalidae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Parapenaeopsis spp..... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Parapenaeus spp........ Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Paratya spp............ Atyidae................ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Pasiphaea spp.......... Pasiphaeidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Penaeopsis spp......... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Penaeus spp............ Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Pleoticus spp.......... Solenoceridae.......... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Plesionika spp......... Pandalidae............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Plesiopenaeus spp...... Aristaeidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Pontocaris spp......... Crangonidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Pontophilus spp........ Crangonidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Processa spp........... Processidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Protrachypene spp...... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Rhynchocinetes spp..... Rhynchocinetidae....... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Saron spp.............. Hippolytidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Sclerocrangon spp...... Crangonidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Sergestes spp.......... Sergestidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Sicyonia spp........... Sicyoniidae............ Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Solenocera spp......... Solenoceridae.......... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Spirontocaris spp...... Hippolytidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Stenopus spp........... Stenopodidae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Systellaspis spp....... Oplophoridae........... Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Trachypenaeus spp...... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Trachysalambria spp.... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
shrimps.............................. Xiphopenaeus spp....... Penaeidae.............. Decapoda (NATANTIA).
skipjack tuna........................ Katsuwonus pelamis..... Scombridae............. SCOMBROIDEI.
yellowfin tuna....................... Thunnus albacares...... Scombridae............. SCOMBROIDEI.
swordfish............................ Xiphias gladiatus...... Xiphiidae.............. SCOMBROIDEI.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: October 27, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-27780 Filed 10-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P