[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 112 (Friday, June 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28062-28066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13799]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R9-FHC-2009-N0082; 40120-1113-4044-D2-FY09]


Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock Assessment Report

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft revised marine mammal stock 
assessment reports for two stocks of West Indian manatee; request for 
comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (MMPA), and its implementing regulations, we, the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (Service), have developed a draft revised marine 
mammal stock assessment report (SAR) for each of the two West Indian 
manatee stocks in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico: The 
Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) stock and the Puerto 
Rico stock of Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus). Both are 
available for public review and comment.

DATES: We must receive comments by September 10, 2009.

ADDRESSES: To obtain the SARs for either or both of the West Indian 
manatee subspecies, and to submit comments, see Document Availability 
and Public Comment, respectively, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: West Indian Manatee in Florida: Jim 
Valade, (904) 731-3336 (telephone) or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#620c0d10160a040e0d100b0603220415114c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5a3435282e323c363528333e3b1a3c2d29743d352c">[email protected]</span></a> (e-mail). 
West Indian Manatee in Puerto Rico: Carlos Diaz, (787) 851-7297 
(telephone) or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90d3f1e2fcffe3cfd4f9f1ead0f6e7e3bef7ffe6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b785a49575448647f525a417b5d4c48155c544d">[email protected]</span></a> (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and its implementing 
regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 18, 
we regulate the taking, possession, transportation, purchasing, 
selling, offering for sale, exporting, and importing of marine mammals. 
One of the MMPA's goals is to ensure that stocks of marine mammals 
occurring in waters under U.S. jurisdiction do not experience a level 
of human-caused mortality and serious injury that is likely to cause 
the stock to be reduced below its optimum sustainable population level 
(OSP). OSP is defined as ``the number of animals which will result in 
the maximum productivity of the population or the

[[Page 28063]]

species, keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the habitat and the 
health of the ecosystem of which they form a constituent element.''
    To help accomplish the goal of maintaining marine mammal stocks at 
their OSPs, section 117 of the MMPA requires us and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) to prepare a SAR for each marine mammal stock 
that occurs in waters under U.S. jurisdiction. A SAR must be based on 
the best scientific information available; therefore, we prepare it in 
consultation with established regional scientific review groups. Each 
SAR must include: (1) A description of the stock and its geographic 
range; (2) a minimum population estimate, maximum net productivity 
rate, and current population trend; (3) an estimate of human-caused 
mortality and serious injury; (4) a description of commercial fishery 
interactions; (5) a categorization of the status of the stock; and (6) 
an estimate of the potential biological removal (PBR) level. The PBR is 
defined as ``the maximum number of animals, not including natural 
mortalities, that may be removed from a marine mammal stock while 
allowing that stock to reach or maintain its OSP.'' The PBR is the 
product of the minimum population estimate of the stock 
(N<INF>min</INF>); one-half the maximum theoretical or estimated net 
productivity rate of the stock at a small population size 
(R<INF>max</INF>); and a recovery factor (F<INF>r</INF>) of between 0.1 
and 1.0, which is intended to compensate for uncertainty and unknown 
estimation errors.
    Section 117 of the MMPA also requires us and NMFS to review the 
SARs (a) at least annually for stocks that are specified as strategic 
stocks, (b) at least annually for stocks for which significant new 
information is available, and (c) at least once every 3 years for all 
other stocks.
    A strategic stock is defined in the MMPA as a marine mammal stock 
(a) for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the 
PBR; (b) which, based on the best available scientific information, is 
declining and is likely to be listed as a threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 
ESA), within the foreseeable future; or (c) which is listed as a 
threatened or endangered species under the ESA, or is designated as 
depleted under the MMPA.
    The following table summarizes the information we are now making 
available in the draft revised SARs for the Florida and Puerto Rico 
stocks of the West Indian manatee, listing each stock's 
N<INF>min</INF>, R<INF>max</INF>, F<INF>r</INF>, PBR, annual estimated 
human-caused mortality and serious injury, and status. After 
consideration of any public comments we receive, we will revise the 
SARs for one or both subspecies, as appropriate. We will publish a 
notice of availability and summary of the final SARs, including 
responses to comments we receive.

                  Table 1--Summary: Draft Revised Stock Assessment Reports, West Indian Manatee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual estimated
                                                                       average human-
    West Indian Manatee Stocks:       Nmin    Rmax     Fr      PBR    caused mortality         Stock status
                                                                     and serious injury
                                                                      (5-year average)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida............................   3,807    0.06     0.1      12                  87  Strategic
Puerto Rico........................      72    0.04     0.1       0                   2  Strategic
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Document Availability

Draft Revised SAR for West Indian Manatee in Florida

    You may obtain a copy by any one of the following methods:
    <bullet> Internet: http://www.fws.gov/northflorida.
    <bullet> Write to or visit (during normal business hours) the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville Field Office, 
7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256-7517; telephone: 
(904) 731-3336.

Draft Revised SAR for West Indian Manatee in Puerto Rico

    You may obtain a copy by any one of the following methods:
    <bullet> Internet: http://www.fws.gov/caribbean/es/Endangered-Animals.html.
    <bullet> Write to or visit (during normal business hours) the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Field Office, 
Carr 301, KM 5.1, BQ Corozo, or P.O Box 491, Boqueron, PR 00622; 
telephone: (787) 851-7297.

Public Comment

Draft Revised SAR for West Indian Manatee in Florida

    You may submit a written comment by any one of the following 
methods:
    <bullet> E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7917160b0d111f15160b101d18391f0e0a571e160f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="432d2c31372b252f2c312a2722032534306d242c35">[email protected]</span></a>.
    <bullet> Mail or hand-delivery: Field Supervisor, Jacksonville 
Field Office (see address above).
    <bullet> Fax: (904) 731-3045.

Draft Revised SAR for West Indian Manatee in Puerto Rico

    You may submit a written comment by any one of the following 
methods:
    <bullet> E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eba88a99878498b4af828a91ab8d9c98c58c849d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e4a78596888b97bba08d859ea4829397ca838b92">[email protected]</span></a>.
    <bullet> Mail or hand-delivery: Field Supervisor, Caribbean Field 
Office (see address above).
    <bullet> Fax: (787) 851-7440.

References

    In accordance with the MMPA, we include in this notice a list of 
the information sources and public reports upon which we based the 
SARs.

Florida Manatee Stock:

Ackerman, B.B., S.D. Wright, R.K. Bonde, D.K. Odell, and D.J. 
Banowetz. 1995. Trends and patterns in mortality of manatees in 
Florida, 1974-1992. Pages 223-258 in T.J. O'Shea, B.B. Ackerman, and 
H.F. Percival, editors. Population Biology of the Florida Manatee. 
National Biological Service, Information and Technology Report No. 
1. Washington, DC.
Beck, C.A. 2007a. USGS FISC Sirenia Project. Personal communication 
to Jim Valade, USFWS. Unpublished Manatee Individual Photo-
Identification System (MIPS) data, number of manatees with 
entanglement-related scars, 1974 to 2007. Available from: USFWS 
Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Beck, C.A. 2007b. USGS FISC Sirenia Project. Personal communication 
to Dawn Jennings, USFWS. Unpublished Manatee Individual Photo-
Identification System (MIPS) data, records of identifiable manatees 
moving between management units, 1974 to 2007. Available from: USFWS 
Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Beck, C.A. and N.B. Barros. 1991. The impact of debris on the 
Florida manatee. Marine Pollution Bulletin 22:508-510.
Beck, C.A. and L.W. Lefebvre. 1995. Are female manatees more 
vulnerable to entanglement in crab trap lines? Abstract. Eleventh 
Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Orlando, FL. 
December 14-18, 1995.
Bonde, R.K., T.J. O'Shea, and C.A. Beck. 1983. Manual of procedures 
for the salvage

[[Page 28064]]

and necropsy of carcasses of the West Indian manatee Trichechus 
manatus. NTIS PB83-255273. Springfield, VA. 175 pp.
Bowles, A.E., T. Yack, C. Alves, R. Anderson and N.M. Adimey. 2003. 
Experimental studies of manatee entanglement in crab traps. 
Abstract. Fifteenth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine 
Mammals, Greensboro, NC. December 14-19, 2003.
Bowles, A.E. 2000. Manatee behaviors in the presence of fishing 
gear: response to novelty and the potential for reducing gear 
interactions. Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, San Diego, CA. 
Annual report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 16+ pp.
Brooks, W.B. 1999. Manatees, monofilament, crab traps and 
management. Abstract. Thirteenth Biennial Conference on the Biology 
of Marine Mammals, Wailea, Maui, HI. November 28 to December 3, 
1999.
Buergelt, C.D., R.K. Bonde, C.A. Beck, and T.J. O'Shea. 1984. 
Pathologic findings in manatees in Florida. Journal of the American 
Veterinary Medicine Association 11:1331-1334.
Craig, B.A. and J.E. Reynolds, III. 2004. Determination of manatee 
population trends along the Atlantic coast of Florida using a 
Bayesian approach with temperature-adjusted aerial survey data. 
Marine Mammal Science 20(3):386-400.
Deutsch, C.J., B.B. Ackerman, T.D. Pitchford, and S.A. Rommel. 2002. 
Trends in manatee mortality in Florida. Abstract. Manatee Population 
Ecology and Management Workshop, Gainesville, FL. April 1-4, 2002.
Deutsch, C.J., R.K. Bonde, and J.P. Reid. 1998. Radio-tracking 
manatees from land and space: tag design, implementation, and 
lessons learned from long-term study. Marine Technology Society 
Journal 32(1):18-29.
Deutsch, C.J., J.P. Reid, R.K. Bonde, D.E. Easton, H.I. Kochman, and 
T.J. O'Shea. 2003. Seasonal movements, migratory behavior and site 
fidelity of West Indian manatees along the Atlantic Coast of the 
United States. Wildlife Monographs 151:1-77.
Fertl, D., A.J. Schiro, G.T. Regan, C.A. Beck, N.M. Adimey, L. 
Price-May, A. Amos, G.A.J. Worthy and R. Crossland. 2005. Manatee 
occurrence in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, west of Florida. Gulf and 
Caribbean Research 17:69-74.
FWC. 2009. ``Blue crab closed seasons approved to aid cleanups.'' 
News release, dated February 5, 2009. 1 p.
FWC FWRI. 2009. Manatee Synoptic Surveys. St. Petersburg, FL, USA. 
Accessed March 15, 2009. Available from http://www.floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=15246.
FWC FWRI. 2007. Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: species account for 
blue crab in Florida. BLUE CRAB, unpublished report. 8 pp.
FWC FWRI. 2008. Manatee Mortality Statistics. St. Petersburg, FL, 
USA. Accessed September 22, 2008. Available from http://www.floridamarine.org/features/category_sub.asp?id=2241.
Fonnesbeck, C.J, and Runge, M.C. 2007. Estimating the relative 
contribution of anthropogenic causes of death to Florida manatee 
(Trichechus manatus latirostris) mortality using Bayesian 
hierarchical modeling. Marine Mammal Science (In review).
Forrester, D.J., F.H. White, J.C. Woodard, and N.P. Thompson. 1975. 
Intussusception in a Florida manatee. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 
11:566-569.
Hare, M.P. and J.G. Mead. 1987. Handbook for the determination of 
adverse human-marine mammal interactions from necropsies. Marine 
Mammal Program, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian 
Institution, Washington DC. NWAFC Process Report 87-06. 35 pp.
Hartley, W.C. 2006. FDEP Blue Springs State Park. Personal 
communication to Dawn Jennings, USFWS. Communication re: Highest 
winter count of manatees observed at Blue Springs State Park during 
the 2006-2007 winter season. Available from: USFWS Jacksonville 
Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Hartman, D.S. 1979. Ecology and behavior of the manatee (Trichechus 
manatus) in Florida. American Society of Mammalogists Special 
Publication No. 5. 153 pp.
Higgs, K. 2007a. FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Personal 
communication to Jim Valade, USFWS. Unpublished Manatee Individual 
Photo-identification System (MIPS) data, number of manatees with 
entanglement-related scars, 1974 to 2007. Available from: USFWS 
Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Higgs, K. 2007b. FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Personal 
communication to Dawn Jennings, USFWS. Unpublished Manatee 
Individual Photo-identification System (MIPS) data, records of 
identifiable manatees moving between management units, 1974 to 2007. 
Available from: USFWS Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 
32256.
Kellogg, M.E. 2008. Sirenian conservation genetics and Florida 
manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) cytogenetics. Doctoral 
dissertation, University of Florida, Gainesville.
Kendall, W.L., C.A. Langtimm, C.A. Beck, and M.C. Runge. 2004. 
Capture-recapture analysis for estimating manatee reproductive 
rates. Marine Mammal Science 20(3):424-437.
Kleen, J.M. 2006. USFWS Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. 
Personal communication to Dawn Jennings, USFWS. Communication re: 
highest winter count of manatees observed in Kings Bay and Crystal 
River, Citrus County, FL. Available from: USFWS Jacksonville Field 
Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Koelsch, J.K., N.M. Adimey, and A.E. Bowles. 2003. Effects of the 
blue crab fishery on marine wildlife in Florida waters: Impacts and 
mitigation efforts. Abstract. Fifteenth Biennial Conference on the 
Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC. December 14-19, 2003.
Koelsch, J.K. 2001. Reproduction in female manatees observed in 
Sarasota Bay, Florida. Marine Mammal Science 17(2):331-342.
Langtimm, C.A., C.A Beck, H.H. Edwards, B.B. Ackerman, K.J. Fick-
Child, S.L. Barton, and W.C. Hartley. 2004. Survival estimates for 
Florida manatees from the photo-identification of individuals. 
Marine Mammal Science 20(3):438-463.
Lefebvre, L.W., M. Marmontel, J.P. Reid, G.B. Rathbun, and D.P. 
Domning. 2001. Status and biogeography of the West Indian manatee. 
Pages 425-474 in C.A. Woods and F.E. Sergile, editors. Biogeography 
of the West Indies: Patterns and Perspectives. CRC Press, Boca 
Raton, FL. 582 pp.
Lightsey, J.D., S.A. Rommel, A.M. Costidis, and T.D. Pitchford. 
2006. Methods used during gross necropsy to determine watercraft-
related mortality in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus 
latirostris). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 37(3):262-275.
NMFS. 2005. Revisions to guidelines for assessing marine mammal 
stocks. Seattle, WA, USA. Accessed September 22, 2008. Available 
from: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/sars/gamms2005.pdf.
Nill, E.K. 1998. The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus 
latirostris) entanglement report 1998. Final report to the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service. 23 pp.
O'Shea, T.J., C.A. Beck, R.K. Bonde, H.I. Kochman, and D.K. Odell. 
1985. An analysis of manatee mortality patterns in Florida 1976-
1981. Journal of Wildlife Management 49(1):1-11.
Pitchford, T.D., S.A. Rommel, and M.E. Pitchford. 2005. 
Characterizing and interpreting watercraft-related wounds in Florida 
manatees: a retrospective analysis of Florida manatee mortality data 
for evidence of deaths attributable to (very) large vessels, 1990--
1999. Final report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Order No 
401810M446. 60 pp.
Rathbun, G.B., R.K. Bonde, and D. Clay. 1982. The status of the West 
Indian manatee on the Atlantic Coast north of Florida. Pages 152-164 
in R.R.Odum and J.W. Guthrie, editors. Proceedings: Symposium on 
Non-game and Endangered Wildlife. Technical Bulletin WL5. Georgia 
Department of Natural Resources, Game and Fish Division, Social 
Circle, GA.
Rathbun, G.B., J.P. Reid, and G. Carowan. 1990. Distribution and 
movement patterns of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Northwestern 
peninsular Florida. Florida Marine Research Institute Publication No 
48. 33 pp.
Read, A.J. and K.T. Murray. 2000. Gross evidence of human-induced 
mortality in small cetaceans. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-15. 
21 pp.
Reid, J.P., G.B. Rathbun, and J.R. Wilcox. 1991. Distribution 
patterns of individually identifiable West Indian manatees 
(Trichechus manatus) in Florida. Marine Mammal Science 7(2):180-190.
Rommel, S.A., A.M. Costidis, T.D. Pitchford, J.D. Lightsey, R.H. 
Snyder, and E.M. Haubold. 2007. Forensic methods for characterizing 
watercraft from watercraft-induced wounds on the Florida manatee 
(Trichechus manatus latirostris). Marine Mammal Science 23(1):110-
132.
Runge M.C., C.A. Langtimm, and W.L. Kendall. 2004. A stage-based 
model of

[[Page 28065]]

manatee population dynamics. Marine Mammal Science 20(3):361-385.
Runge M.C., C.A. Sanders-Reed, and C.J. Fonnesbeck. 2007a. A core 
stochastic population projection model for Florida manatees 
(Trichechus manatus latirostris). U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 
Report 2007-1082. 41 pp.
Runge M.C., C.A. Sanders-Reed, C.A. Langtimm, and C.J. Fonnesbeck. 
2007b. A quantitative threats analysis for the Florida manatee 
(Trichechus manatus latirostris). Final report to U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Jacksonville, FL. Intergovernmental Contract No. 
40181-5-N012 (March 2007). U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 
2007-1086. 34 pp.
Schwartz, F.J. 1995. Florida manatees, Trichechus manatus (Sirenia: 
Trichechidae), in North Carolina 1919-1994. Brimleyana 22:53-60.
Smith, K.N. 1998. Summary of manatee fatalities associated with 
fishing practices or gear, 1974-1997. Unpublished report, Florida 
Department of Environmental Protection. 6 pp.
Smith, K.N. 1997. Summary of manatee fatalities associated with 
fishing practices or gear, 1974-1996. In: Resource Management Notes, 
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Spring 1997, 9(1): 
9--10.
Spellman, A.C., J.K. Koelsch, N.M. Adimey and L. Souto. 2003. 
Response to a clear and present danger. Abstract. Fifteenth Biennial 
Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC. 
December 14-19, 2003.
Spellman, A.C. 1999. Manatee entanglements in fishing gear and 
debris. Abstract. Thirteenth Biennial Conference on the Biology of 
Marine Mammals, Wailea, Maui, HA. November 28 to December 3, 1999.
Stith, B.M., D.H. Slone, and J.P. Reid. 2006. Review and synthesis 
of manatee data in Everglades National Park. Final Report for USGS/
ENP Agreement <greek-i> IA F5297-04-0119, November 2006. 110 pp.
Taylor, B.L., M. Scott, J.E. Heyning, and J. Barlow. 2003. Suggested 
guidelines for recovery factors for endangered marine mammals. NOAA 
Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-354. 9 pp.
USFWS Jacksonville Field Office. 2008a. Unpublished data (manatee 
sighting reports of manatees sighted outside of Florida). Available 
from: USFWS Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
USFWS Jacksonville Field Office. 2008b. Unpublished data from the 
Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release Program database, 1974-
2008, manatee rescues related to entanglements in and ingestion of 
marine debris. Available from: USFWS Jacksonville Field Office, 
Jacksonville, FL 32256.
USFWS Jacksonville Field Office. 2008c. Unpublished data 
(miscellaneous correspondence and notes regarding manatee 
entanglements in and ingestion of marine debris). Available from: 
USFWS Jacksonville Field Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
USFWS. 2007. 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation for the West 
Indian Manatee. Unpublished report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Jacksonville Field Office. Jacksonville, FL. 79 pp.
USFWS. 2001. Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) 
recovery plan, third revision. USFWS. Atlanta, GA. 144 pp + 
appendices.
USGS FISC Sirenia Project. 2007. Unpublished Manatee Individual 
Photo-identification System (MIPS) data, number of manatees with 
entanglement-related scars. Available from: USFWS Jacksonville Field 
Office, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Valade, J.A., G.D. Bossart, K. Frohlich, L.W. Lefebvre, A.A. 
Mignucci-Giannoni, D. Murphy, J. Pearson, and J.A. Powell. 1999. The 
manatee rescue, rehabilitation, and release program: an overview. 
Abstract. Thirteenth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine 
Mammals, Wailea, Maui, HA. November 28 to December 3, 1999.
Vianna, J.A., R.K. Bonde, S. Caballero, J.P. Giraldo, R.P. Lima, A. 
Clark, M. Marmontel, B. Morales-Vela, M.J. de Sousa, L. Parr, M.A. 
Rodriguez-Lopez, A.A. Mignucci-Giannonni, J .A. Powell, and F.R. 
Santos. 2006. Phylogeography, phylogeny, and hybridization in 
trichechid sirenians: implications for manatee conservation. 
Molecular Ecology 15:433-447.
Walsh, M.T. and G.D. Bossart. 1999. Manatee medicine. In: Zoo and 
Wildlife Medicine, Fowler, M.E. and Miller, R.E. eds., W.B. 
Saunders, Philadelphia, 507 516.
Weigle, B.L., I.E. Wright, M. Ross, and R.O. Flamm. 2001. Movements 
of radio-tagged manatees in Tampa Bay and along Florida's west 
coast, 1991-1996. Florida Marine Research Institute Technical Report 
TR-7. 156 pp.
Wright, S.D., B.B. Ackerman, R.K. Bonde, C.A. Beck and D.J. 
Banowetz. 1995. Analysis of watercraft-related mortality of manatees 
in Florida, 1979-1991. Pages 259-268 in T.J. O'Shea, B.B. Ackerman, 
and H.F. Percival, editors. Population Biology of the Florida 
Manatee. National Biological Service, Information and Technology 
Report No. 1. Washington DC.

Puerto Rico Manatee Stock:

Barrett, O.W. 1935. Notes concerning manatees and dugongs. J. 
Mammalogy 16:216-220.
Caribbean Stranding Network. 1988. Unpublished Data.
Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. 2004. Reglamento 
de Pesca de Puerto Rico. 36 pp.
Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. 2009. Manatee 
Stranding Reports May 2006 through November 2008. Unpublished Data.
Deutsch, C.J., Self-Sullivan, C. and Mignucci-Giannoni, A. 2007. 
Trichechus manatus ssp. manatus. In: IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List 
of Threatened Species 5pp
Domning, D.P. and L.C. Hayek. 1986. Interspecific and intraspecific 
morphological variation in manatees (Sirenia: Trichechus). Marine 
Mammal Sci. 2:87-144.
Erdman, D. S. 1970. Marine mammals from Puerto Rico to Antigua. J. 
Mamm. 51:636-639.
manatus) in Puerto Rico: 1988-1989. NTIS PB91-137240. Springfield, 
VA. 43 pp.
Evermann, B.W. 1900. General Report on the Investigations in Puerto 
Rico of the U.S. Fish Commission Steamer Fish Hawk in 1989. Bull. 
U.S. Fish Comm. 20: 3-302.
Garc[iacute]a-Rodr[iacute]guez, A.I., Bowen, B.W., Domning, D., 
Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A., Marmotel, M., Montoya-Ospina, R.A., 
Morales-Vela, B., Ruding, M., Bonde, R.K., and P.M. McGuire. 1998. 
Phylogeography of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus): how 
many populations and how many taxa? Molecular Ecology 7: 1137-1149.
Hatt, R. 1934. A manatee collected by the American Museum Congo 
Expedition, with observations of recent manatees. Bulletin of the 
American Museum of Natural History 66: 533-566.
Lefebvre, L.W., M. Marmontel, J.P. Reid, G.B. Rathbun, and D.P. 
Domning. 2001. Status and biogeography of the West Indian manatee. 
Pages 425-474 in C.A. Woods and F.E. Sergile, editors. Biogeography 
of the West Indies: Patterns and Perspectives. CRC Press, Boca 
Raton, FL. 582 pp.
Lefebvre, L.W., T.J. O'Shea, G.B. Rathbun and R.C. Best. 1989. 
Distribution, status, and biogeography of the West Indian manatee. 
Biogeography of the West Indies, 1989: 567-610.
Magor, D.M. 1979. Survey of the Caribbean manatee (Trichechus 
manatus, L.) on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. 9 p + appendices. 
Report to the Navy.
Matos-Caraballo, D. 2004. Comprehensive Census of Marine Fisheries 
of Puerto Rico. 2002. Final Report to NOAA. Department of Natural 
and Environmental Resources. p. 51-85.
Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A. 1989. Zoogeography of marine mammals in 
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Unpublished master's thesis, The 
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI.
Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A., B. Pinto-Rodriguez, R.A. Montoya-Ospina, 
D.P. Moore, and E.H. Williams. 1993. Stranding and mortality 
assessment of marine mammals in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 
Presented at the Tenth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine 
Mammals, Galveston, TX, 11-16 November.
Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A., M.M. Alsina Guerrero, V.M. Rosado, G.M. 
Toyos, and R.J. Rosario. 2003. Ecomap: Southwest Puerto Rico 
Endangered Marine Wildlife Conservation Project. Caribbean Stranding 
Network Report to EcoElectrica. 16 pp.
Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A., M.M. Alsina Guerrero, G.M. Toyos, and R.J. 
Rosario. 2004. Aerial Surveys for marine mammals and sea turtles off 
the southeast coast of Puerto Rico. Caribbean Stranding Network 
Report to EcoElectrica. 16 pp.
Mignucci Giannoni, A.A. 2006. West Indian manatee (Trichechus 
manatus) mortality analysis for Puerto Rico: 1990-2005. Caribbean 
Stranding Network. Unpublished Report.
NMFS. 2005. Revisions to Guidelines for Assessing Marine Mammal 
Stocks. Seattle, WA, USA. 24 pp. Available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/sars/gamms2005.pdf.
NOAA. 2004. Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic 
Essential Fish

[[Page 28066]]

Habitats for the U.S. Caribbean Fisheries Management Plans.
Powell. J.A., D.W. Belitsky, and G.B. Rathbun. 1981. Status of the 
West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) in Puerto Rico. J. Mamm. 
62: 642-646.
Rathbun, G.B., Carr, N., Carr, T., and C.A. Woods. 1985. The 
distribution of manatees and sea turtles in Puerto Rico, with 
emphasis on Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. NTIS PB 85-151847 AS. 
Springfield, VA. 83 pp.
Ray, C.E. 1960. The Manatee in the Lesser Antilles. J. Mammal. 41: 
412-413.
Rice, S.M. 1990. Aerial Survey of West Indian Manatee Trichechus 
manatus. Unpub. Report. 19 pp.
Shoshani, J. 2005. Order Sirenia, pp. 92-93, in Mammal Species of 
the World: A taxonomic and geographic reference (D.E. Wilson and 
D.M. Reeder, eds.). John Hopkins University Press. 3rd. Edition 
(2142 pp.)
Teresa Tallevast. 2006. Culebra NWR Refuge Manager. Personal 
Communication.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Recovery plan for the Puerto 
Rico population of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus 
manatus L.). Prepared by: G.B. Rathbun and E. Possardt for the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 28 pp.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. West Indian Manatee. 5-year 
review: Summary and Evaluation. Jacksonville Ecological Services 
Office, Florida; Caribbean Field Office, Puerto Rico. 79 pp.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. Unpublished Data.
Vianna, J.A., R.K, Bonde, J.P Caballero, J.P. Giraldo, R.P. Lima, A. 
Clark, M. Marmotel, B. Morales-Vela, M. J.de Sousa, L. Parr, M.A. 
Rodr[iacute]guez-Lopez, A.A Mignucci-Giannoni, J.A. Powell, and F.R. 
Santos. 2006. Phyllogeography, phylogeny, and hybridization in 
trichechid sirenians: implications for manatee conservation. 
Molecular Ecology 15: 433-447.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et al.).

    Dated: June 3, 2009.
 Marvin Moriarty,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E9-13799 Filed 6-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>