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Export of Live American Alligators DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has received information that raises concerns on the conservation implications of the export of live American alligators. This notice is to request submission to the Service of any information that may be available on the impacts of exports of live American alligators. In addition, the Service recently denied an application, and other current applications in process raise questions concerning eligibility. The Service announces review of all available information relating to such export to determine to what extent the export of live alligators meet the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Service criteria for permit issuance. This will allow the agency to examine the potential impacts of future exports of American alligators on the species, on other crocodilians, and on American alligator conservation programs. Information collected will be used in evaluating current and future permit applications to ensure that any permits issued comply fully with all requirements, including Executive Order 11987, Exotic Organisms. If requested, a public meeting or meetings will be used to assist the Service in analyzing the information. While the Service will continue to review applications on a case-by-case basis, any general policy or determinations developed as a result of this review will be published in the Federal Register for notice and comment. Applications for export of live American alligators for scientific research, for zoological display, or as personal pets appear to continue to be generally eligible for permits and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. DATES: The Service will consider all information and comments received by August 25, 1997. ADDRESSES: Please send comments to Chief, Office of Management Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 430, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Express and messenger deliveries should be addressed to the same address. Materials received will be available for public inspection by appointment from 7:45 am to 4:15 pm, Monday through Friday, at the Office of Management Authority. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Stansell, Chief, Office of Management Authority, phone 703-358-2095, fax 703-358-2280. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management Authority has recently received requests from the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that the Service review the criteria for issuance of permits for commercial export of live American alligators and to restrict issuance of permits until a review is completed. Both States have a number of conservation concerns about the export of these animals. In addition, the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group has provided the Service with information that emphasizes the serious ecological consequences of establishing feral populations of exotic species of crocodilians, especially in areas with native crocodilians. Each permit application must be carefully evaluated to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and executive orders before a permit can be issued. For American alligators, their parts, or products, an export permit can only be issued if the Service can determine:
Organisms, are met. (This Executive Order requires "Executive agencies to restrict the use of Federal funds, programs, or authorities used to export native species for the purpose of introducing such species into ecosystems outside the United States where they do not naturally occur." In this instance, introduction is defined to include "the release, escape, or establishment of an exotic species into a natural ecosystem." In relation to Executive Order 11987, Exotic Organisms, there has been an increasing awareness at the international level of the problems associated with species that are, inadvertently or otherwise, introduced into ecosystems where they do not usually occur (also referred to as alien species). International conservation bodies have recently addressed these issues and the problems associated with them. In July 1996, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNESCO, and the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) sponsored a Conference on Alien Species in Trondheim, Norway. This Conference provided a forum for dialogue among scientists and policy makers on research and management issues related to alien species, contributed to ongoing deliberations in international and national for dealing with these issues, and developed a sound scientific knowledge base on issues related to alien species. At the World Conservation Congress in October 1996, the IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group conducted a workshop on "Dealing with Alien Invasive Species." During the course of this workshop, draft guidelines for the prevention of biodiversity loss due to biological invasion were made available for further discussion and consideration. The IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group is developing a global database of invasive species. The IUCN workshop was followed by further discussion of the invasive species issue at the Third Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in November 1996. In response to concern over this issue, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared a discussion document entitled "Trade in Alien Species." The Service has asked that the topic be included on the agenda of the meeting of the tenth CITES Conference of the Parties which will be held in June 1997 in Zimbabwe. The paper notes that:
The IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group has contacted the Service outlining its concern about "the potentially serious ecological consequences of establishing feral populations of exotic species of crocodilians, including competition with native species, impact on prey species, interbreeding with native crocodilians and introduction of diseases. The Crocodile Specialist Group of the SCC/IUCN RECOMMENDS that crocodile species should not be used for commercial farming operations outside their historical range where those operations are located within the range of other native species of crocodilians." This increased international focus is providing information that should be taken into consideration when permit applications are evaluated. In 1995, 10 CITES export permits were issued for the export of 592 live American alligators. In 1996, 15 CITES export permits were issued for the export of 2,151 live American alligators. The Service currently has several applications for export of a total of over 2,300 American alligators. Some applicants have already stated that they plan to apply for additional export permits for live American alligators. One application has been denied. In order to ensure that any export permits issued fully comply with Executive Order 11987 as well as all other requirements, the Service is seeking information on the possible conservation impacts of export of live American alligators, including impacts on State management programs for this species in the United States, and on the potential deleterious effects of exported live American alligators on ecosystems outside their natural range into which they may be introduced. Information collected will be used in evaluating current and future applications to ensure that any permits issued are issued in compliance with all current requirements. Applications for export of American alligators, including those for scientific research, for zoological display, or as personal pets, will be evaluated on a case- by-case basis. After a review of the potential impacts of live American alligator export on the status of wild American alligator populations in the United States, as well as a review of whether or not the export may be detrimental to any wildlife or plant population into which the American alligators may be introduced. Any determinations or general policy will be published in the Federal Register for notice and comment. Information Requested Future Actions FR Doc. 97-16519 Filed 6-23-97; 8:45 am] |