ETWP; Proposed Rule To List the Short-Tailed Albatross as Endangered in the United States

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to extend endangered status for the short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) to include the species' range within the United States. As a result of an administrative error in the original listing, the short- tailed albatross is currently listed as endangered throughout its range except in the U.S. Short-tailed albatrosses range throughout the North Pacific Ocean and north into the Bering Sea during the non-breeding season, and breeding colonies were historically present on islands in Taiwan. Originally numbering in the millions, the worldwide population of breeding age birds is currently approximately 500 individuals and the worldwide total population is less than 1000 individuals. There are no breeding populations of short-tailed albatrosses in the U.S., but several individuals have been regularly observed during the breeding season on Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Current threats to the species include destruction of habitat by volcanic eruption or mud or land slides caused by monsoon rains, and demographic or genetic vulnerability due to low population size and limited breeding distribution. Longline fisheries, plastics ingestion, contaminants, and airplane strikes may also be factors affecting the species' conservation. This proposal, if made final, would implement the Federal protection and recovery provisions provided by the Act for individuals when they occur in the U.S.