Exports of Live American Alligators

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Exports of Live American Alligators

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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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:

1. That the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the

species (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, 23.15(d)(1));

2. That the animals to be exported were not obtained in violation

of laws for their protection (50 CFR 23.15(d)(2);

3. That the authorization requested does not potentially threaten a

wildlife population (50 CFR 13.21(b)(4)); and

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4. That the requirements of Executive Order 11987, Exotic

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 fora 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: ``In

the United States, well over 300 nonindigenous fish and wildlife

species of foreign origin have already established free-living

populations, approximately 122 of which are causing harm and

threatening biodiversity (Office of Technology Assessment 1993).

Although some of these species were introduced intentionally, many

became established by accident. The risk of deleterious introductions,

both intentional and unintentional, from species in international

commercial trade remains grave.''

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

In response to information provided to the Service that raises

concerns about the way in which applications for export of live

American alligators are evaluated, the increasing number of

applications for export of live American alligators, and statements

from applicants that more applications for export would be forthcoming,

the Service is seeking additional information and public input about

the conservation impacts of commercial export of live American

alligators and/or their eggs. Information sought would include: (1)

potential deleterious effects of exported live American alligators on

ecosystems outside their natural range into which they may

(inadvertently or otherwise) be introduced; (2) potential impacts on

State management programs for this species in the United States

including the effectiveness of the programs and successful enforcement

of legal trade in American alligator specimens; (3) potential effects

of American alligators on other crocodilian species and their habitats

in other countries (especially where examples can be cited); and (4)

documented examples of effects of other crocodilians introduced outside

of their native range. Because there is no ability to monitor

subsequent re-export of specimens after the initial export from the

United States, the Service is also soliciting comments regarding export

of live American alligators to countries outside the range of any

crocodilian.

Future Actions

Comments received through this notice will be used in evaluating

current and future applications for export of live American alligators.

All information received in response to this notice will be thoroughly

reviewed and evaluated, and a decision will be made on whether to

develop a policy proposal on this issue. Applications for export of

American alligators for scientific research, for zoological display, or

as personal pets will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If

requested in

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writing, the Service will hold public meetings concerning the issue.

Dated: June 17, 1997.

Jay L. Gerst,

Acting Director.

[FR Doc. 97-16519 Filed 6-23-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P