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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 107110-107111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31175]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE566]

Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of the 5-Year 
Review of the Island Grouper (Mycteroperca fusca)

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

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the initiation of the 5-year review of the 
threatened island grouper (Mycteroperca fusca). The Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least 
once every 5 years to determine whether a species should be removed 
from the list (i.e., delisted), reclassified from an endangered species 
to a threatened species (i.e., downlisted), or reclassified from a 
threatened species to an endangered species (i.e., uplisted). The 
determination must be based on the best scientific and commercial data 
available at the time of the review. Therefore, we request relevant 
information (e.g., biology, threats, and conservation efforts) that has 
become available since our previous review of the species.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct the 5-year review, we must 
receive your information no later than March 3, 2025. While we accept 
new information about any listed species at any time, information 
received after the date stated above may not be considered for the 
purposes of this review.

ADDRESSES: Submit your information electronically via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-
NMFS-2024-0149 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
    Instructions: We may not consider comments or other information if 
sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or 
received after the date stated above. All comments and information 
received are a part of the public record, and we will post the comments 
for public viewing on https://www.regulations.gov. All personal 
identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted 
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit 
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information. We will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the 
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alison Verkade, NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources, (301) 427-8074, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our initiation of the 
island grouper (Mycteroperca fusca) 5-year review. Section 4(c)(2) of 
the ESA requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least once 
every 5 years to determine whether species should be removed from the 
list, changed in status from an endangered species to a threatened 
species, or changed in status from a threatened species to an 
endangered species (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(2)). Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA 
requires us to determine whether any species is an endangered or 
threatened species because of any of the following factors: (A) the 
present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its 
habitat or range; (B)

[[Page 107111]]

overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the inadequacy of 
existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or manmade factors 
affecting its continued existence (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(1)). Section 
4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA requires us to make the determination based 
solely on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time 
of the review and after taking into account efforts to protect the 
species (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(1)(A)). Regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require 
that we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing species 
currently under active review. Based on such reviews, we determine 
whether a species should be delisted or reclassified (50 CFR 424.21). 
Any such change (i.e., delisting or reclassification) would require a 
separate rulemaking process.
    We last performed a review of the island grouper in 2015 prior to 
its listing as a threatened species under the ESA (81 FR 72545, October 
20, 2016). Background information on the species is available on the 
NMFS website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/island-grouper/overview.

Public Solicitation of Relevant Information

    To ensure that the 5-year review is based on the best scientific 
and commercial data available, we are soliciting information from the 
public, governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community, 
industry, environmental organizations, and any other interested 
parties. We request information that has become available since the 
previous review was published in 2015. Categories of requested 
information include: (1) species biology including, but not limited to, 
abundance, population trends, demographics, distribution, and 
diversity; (2) habitat conditions including, but not limited to, 
amount, distribution, suitability, and important features for 
conservation; (3) degree, nature, and trends of threats to the species 
and its habitats, especially those factors described in section 4(a)(1) 
of the ESA and listed above; (4) conservation efforts that have been 
implemented to benefit the species, including monitoring data 
demonstrating the effectiveness of such efforts; and (5) other 
information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to, 
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes and improved analytical methods for 
evaluating extinction risk.
    If you wish to provide information for the review, please submit 
your information and materials electronically (see ADDRESSES section). 
We request that all information be accompanied by supporting 
documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of 
pertinent publications.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: December 20, 2024.
Lisa Manning,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-31175 Filed 12-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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