Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Special Rule To Control the Trade of Threatened Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso)

Résumé

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to establish a special rule under Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), to exempt the international, foreign, and interstate commerce in certain beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) products from threatened species permits normally required under 50 CFR 17.32. Beluga sturgeon occur in the Caspian and Black Seas, and are found in the territorial waters of 11 countries (i.e., the range countries). Over-harvest, severe habitat degradation, and other factors have led to the listing of beluga sturgeon as threatened throughout its range under the Act and in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In our final listing rule, we delayed the effective date of the threatened listing for 6 months in order to promulgate a 4(d) rule. After the listing becomes effective, the Act will prohibit all trade (foreign, international, and interstate) in beluga sturgeon and beluga sturgeon products, except as provided in the special rule or with permits under the provision of Section 10 of the Act. This proposed special rule initially allows range count