Endangered Species Act Status Review of Lesser Electric Ray (Narcine bancroftii)

On September 7, 2010, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a petition from WildEarth Guardians to list the lesser1 electric ray as threatened or endangered throughout its historic and current range and to designate critical habitat within the territory of the United States concurrently with listing the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On March 22, 2011 (76 FR 15947), NMFS made a 90-day finding that the petition did not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. On March 22, 2012, NMFS received from WildEarth Guardians a 60-day notice of intent to sue on the negative 90-day finding. On February 26, 2013, WildEarth Guardians filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, on the negative 90-day finding. On October 1, 2013, NMFS entered a court settlement agreement to accept a supplement to the 2010 petition, if any is provided, and to make a new 90-day finding based on the 2010 petition, its supplement, and any additional information readily available in our files. On October 31, 2013, NMFS received a supplemental petition from WildEarth Guardians and Defenders of Wildlife. On January 30, 2014, NMFS published a 90-day finding that the petition did present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted and announced our initiation of a status review on the species. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, NMFS solicited scientific and commercial (e.g., bycatch) information pertaining to this species from any interested party.