90 FR 96 pgs. 21467-21468 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-Year Review of the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 96Pages: 21467 - 21468
Pages: 21467, 21468Docket number: [RTID 0648-XE901]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-08943 Filed 5-19-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE901]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-Year Review of the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)
AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Interior.
ACTION:
Notice; request for information.
SUMMARY:
NMFS and USFWS announce the initiation of a 5-year review of the endangered Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). 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 July 21, 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-2025-0043 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:
Dan Tierney, NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 207-866-3755, dan.tierney@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This notice announces our initiation of the Gulf of Maine DPS of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) 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) 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.
After reviewing all information, we publish our determination on the NMFS website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/atlantic-salmon-5-year-review. Any recommended change ( i.e., delisting or reclassification) would require a separate rulemaking process. In 2020, we previously performed a review of the Gulf of Maine DPS of Atlantic salmon, which is available at the NMFS website, along with additional background information on the species.
Public Solicitation of Relevant Information
[top] 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,
The Gulf of Maine DPS of Atlantic salmon was listed as a distinct population segment, which is included in the ESA definition of species (16 U.S.C. 1532) and further explained by the Policy Regarding the Recognition of Distinct Vertebrate Population Segments (61 FR 4722; February 7, 1996). Therefore, we also request information that has become available since the last review on: (1) the discreteness of the population segment in relation to the remainder of the species to which it belongs; (2) the significance of the population segment to the species to which it belongs; and (3) the population segment's conservation status in relation to the Act's standards for listing ( i.e., is the population segment endangered or threatened?).
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: May 14, 2025.
Shannon Bettridge,
Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-08943 Filed 5-19-25; 8:45 am]
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