Proposed Listing Determinations for Ten Species of Giant Clams Under the Endangered Species Act (Draft)
Jul. 25, 2024
NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review of seven species of giant clams (Hippopus hippopus, H. porcellanus, Tridacna derasa, T. gigas, T. mbalavuana, T. squamosa, and T. squamosina) in response to a petition to list these species as threatened or endangered under ESA. Based on the best scientific and commercial data available, including the Status Review Report, and after taking into account efforts being made to protect these species, they have determined that H. porcellanus, T. mbalavuana, and T. squamosina are in danger of extinction throughout the entirety of their respective ranges, T. derasa and T. gigas are in danger of extinction in a significant portion of their respective ranges, and H. hippopus is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout a significant portion of its range. Therefore, they propose to list H. porcellanus, T. mbalavuana, T. squamosina, T. derasa, and T. gigas as endangered species and H. hippopus as a threatened species under the ESA. They have determined that the fluted clam, T. squamosa, does not meet the definition of a threatened or an endangered species under section 4(a) of the ESA. Comments must be received by 23 October 2024. POC is John Rippe, NMFS Office of Protected Resources john.rippe@noaa.gov.
(Federal Register 25 July 2024 [Rule] Pages 60498-60547)