Migratory Birds; Double-Crested Cormorant Increased Take Limits for Depredation Permits in the Central and Eastern United States, 69762-69763 [2019-27415]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69762-69763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27415]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-MB-2019-N148; FF09M29000-190-FXMB1232090BPP0]


Migratory Birds; Double-Crested Cormorant Increased Take Limits 
for Depredation Permits in the Central and Eastern United States

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In November 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working 
in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife 
Services, completed an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no 
significant impact for the issuance of depredation permits for double-
crested cormorants.

[[Page 69763]]

The scope of the EA covered issuance of depredation permits for the 
purposes of health and human safety, aquaculture, property damage, and 
concern for co-nesting threatened or endangered species. This notice is 
to inform the public that, based on an adaptive management approach, we 
have reviewed recent data and are moving from the preferred alternative 
to the proposed action of using a higher annual take threshold, as 
prescribed in the 2017 EA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerome Ford, Assistant Director, 
Migratory Birds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at 202-208-1050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the Federal agency 
delegated the primary responsibility for managing migratory birds. Our 
authority derives from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, as 
amended (MBTA or Act, 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), which implements 
conventions with Great Britain (for Canada), Mexico, Japan, and the 
Russia Federation. The MBTA protects certain migratory birds from take, 
except as permitted under the Act. We implement the provisions of the 
MBTA through regulations in parts 10, 13, 20, 21, and 22 of title 50 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Regulations pertaining to 
migratory bird permits are at 50 CFR part 21.
    The double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is a fish-
eating migratory bird that is distributed across a large portion of 
North America. These birds are generalist predators whose diet varies 
considerably between seasons and locations and tends to reflect fish 
species composition.

Environmental Assessment

    In 2017, we completed an environmental assessment (EA) on the 
issuance of depredation permits for double-crested cormorants across 37 
central and eastern states and the District of Columbia (see 82 FR 
52936; Nov. 15, 2017). The scope of the EA covered issuance of 
depredation permits for the purposes of protecting human safety and 
health, aquaculture, property, and co-nesting threatened or endangered 
species.
    Our preferred alternative in 2017 allowed a take of 51,571 
cormorants per year. This alternative limited take to amounts 
previously authorized in the period 2010-2015, well below the lower 
limit of the potential take limit (PTL) model conducted for the 
Environmental Assessment. This more conservative limit was taken in 
order to assess the continued need for individual permits and allow an 
adaptive approach if needed, while staying within the limits in the PTL 
model. In the EA, we noted that, by using an adaptive management 
approach, the Service may consider transitioning from the preferred 
alternative (reduced take alternative) to the less restrictive take 
authorized in the proposed action using the lower limit of the PTL. The 
PTL models estimated that the annual maximum allowable take of 74,396 
cormorants per year would maintain the cormorant populations considered 
in the proposed action.

Current Situation and Response

    In 2018, authorized take of cormorants was 51,154, and 10 
permittees requested amendments to increase the authorized take of 
cormorants in their individual permits. In two cases, the amendments 
for increased take were requested multiple times. As of October 3, 
2019, authorized take in 2019 was already 40,960 birds, and we have 
received 8 amendment requests. In one case, the amendment for an 
increase was requested a second time.
    This notice is to inform the public that, based on an adaptive 
management approach and our review of the recent data just described, 
we are moving from the preferred alternative in the 2017 EA to the 
proposed action of using a higher annual take threshold.
    To ensure that authorized take is not having a significant effect 
on cormorant populations, the Service will assess cormorant survey data 
and update the PTL at least every 10 years using data acquired from the 
Service Permits Information Tracking System. We will publish a notice 
in the Federal Register if we determine that the take of double-crested 
cormorants should be changed again in the future.

    Dated: October 31, 2019.
Margaret E. Everson,
Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Exercising 
the Authority of the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-27415 Filed 12-18-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P