Fish and Wildlife Service Announces a Proposal to Delist the Morelet's Crocodile Due to Recovery of the Species
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced a proposal to remove the Morelet's crocodile from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to recovery of the species. The species is found in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
The Morelet's crocodile was listed as endangered throughout its entire range on June 2, 1970, under the predecessor of the ESA. It was listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on July 1, 1975. CITES in an international treaty that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild
animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction that are or may be affected by trade. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. The overharvest for commercial purposes was the primary reason for the Morelet's crocodile being listed under the ESA and
its inclusion in CITES.
As a result of the species' improved status, on March 18, 2010, at the Conference of the Parties, (CoP) transferred the Morelet's crocodile populations in Mexico and Belize were to CITES Appendix II with a zero quota for wild specimens for commercial purposes. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. At the request of Guatemala, those populations of Morelet's crocodiles in Guatemala will remain in CITES Appendix I. The new CITES designation became effective on June 23, 2010. Because of the zero quota annotation for wild specimens, international commercial trade in Morelet's crocodiles under CITES from Mexico and Belize is limited to individuals from sources other than wild populations.
The Service's determination found that the species is no longer threatened with extinction. This proposed rule, if made final, would remove the Morelet's crocodile throughout its range from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife under the ESA.
In addition, if this proposed rule is finalized and the prohibitions of the ESA are removed, Morelet's crocodile parts and products originating from sources other than wild populations from Mexico (and Belize, if any) could be imported into the United States for commercial purposes, as long as the exporting country finds that the export will not be detrimental to the species, the specimen was lawfully acquired, and the required CITES export permit or re-export certificate has been issued.
The Morelet's crocodile was named after a French naturalist, P.M.A. Morelet, who discovered the species in Mexico in 1850. The species is relatively smaller than other species such as the American crocodile, with most wild adults usually ranging in length from just 6.6-8.2 feet. It is
generally found in freshwater environments such as lakes, swamps, and slow-moving rivers. The majority of the Morelet's crocodile population occurs in Mexico and Belize (87 percent) and those two countries hold the majority of the potentially suitable habitat (81 percent) throughout the
species' range. Guatemala contains the remaining 13 percent of the wild Morelet's crocodiles and the remaining 19 percent of the potentially suitable habitat throughout the species' range.
The 12-month finding and proposed rule to remove Morelet's crocodile from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife will publish in the Federal Register on April 27, 2011. A copy of the rule is available at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/international-activities.html.
To ensure the status review is comprehensive, the Service is soliciting information from all interested parties regarding the Morelet's crocodile. Written comments and information concerning this proposal can be submitted by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn:
[FWS-R9-ES-2010-0030]; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203
Comments must be received within 60 days, on or before June 27, 2011. The Service will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov/. This generally means the agency will post any personal information provided through the process. The Service is not able to accept email or faxes.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced a proposal to remove the Morelet's crocodile from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to recovery of the species. The species is found in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
The Morelet's crocodile was listed as endangered throughout its entire range on June 2, 1970, under the predecessor of the ESA. It was listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on July 1, 1975. CITES in an international treaty that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild
animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction that are or may be affected by trade. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. The overharvest for commercial purposes was the primary reason for the Morelet's crocodile being listed under the ESA and
its inclusion in CITES.
As a result of the species' improved status, on March 18, 2010, at the Conference of the Parties, (CoP) transferred the Morelet's crocodile populations in Mexico and Belize were to CITES Appendix II with a zero quota for wild specimens for commercial purposes. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. At the request of Guatemala, those populations of Morelet's crocodiles in Guatemala will remain in CITES Appendix I. The new CITES designation became effective on June 23, 2010. Because of the zero quota annotation for wild specimens, international commercial trade in Morelet's crocodiles under CITES from Mexico and Belize is limited to individuals from sources other than wild populations.
The Service's determination found that the species is no longer threatened with extinction. This proposed rule, if made final, would remove the Morelet's crocodile throughout its range from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife under the ESA.
In addition, if this proposed rule is finalized and the prohibitions of the ESA are removed, Morelet's crocodile parts and products originating from sources other than wild populations from Mexico (and Belize, if any) could be imported into the United States for commercial purposes, as long as the exporting country finds that the export will not be detrimental to the species, the specimen was lawfully acquired, and the required CITES export permit or re-export certificate has been issued.
The Morelet's crocodile was named after a French naturalist, P.M.A. Morelet, who discovered the species in Mexico in 1850. The species is relatively smaller than other species such as the American crocodile, with most wild adults usually ranging in length from just 6.6-8.2 feet. It is
generally found in freshwater environments such as lakes, swamps, and slow-moving rivers. The majority of the Morelet's crocodile population occurs in Mexico and Belize (87 percent) and those two countries hold the majority of the potentially suitable habitat (81 percent) throughout the
species' range. Guatemala contains the remaining 13 percent of the wild Morelet's crocodiles and the remaining 19 percent of the potentially suitable habitat throughout the species' range.
The 12-month finding and proposed rule to remove Morelet's crocodile from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife will publish in the Federal Register on April 27, 2011. A copy of the rule is available at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/international-activities.html.
To ensure the status review is comprehensive, the Service is soliciting information from all interested parties regarding the Morelet's crocodile. Written comments and information concerning this proposal can be submitted by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn:
[FWS-R9-ES-2010-0030]; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203
Comments must be received within 60 days, on or before June 27, 2011. The Service will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov/. This generally means the agency will post any personal information provided through the process. The Service is not able to accept email or faxes.
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