A Petition to List the Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) as an Endangered, or Alternatively as a Threatened, Species Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act and for the Concurrent Designation of Critical Habitat Oceanic whitetip shark (used with permission from Andy Murch/Elasmodiver.com). Submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service September 21, 2015 By: Defenders of Wildlife1 535 16th Street, Suite 310 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: (720) 943-0471 (720) 942-0457 [email protected] [email protected] 1 Defenders of Wildlife would like to thank Courtney McVean, a law student at the University of Denver, Sturm college of Law, for her substantial research and work preparing this Petition. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 4 II. GOVERNING PROVISIONS OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT ............................................. 5 A. Species and Distinct Population Segments ....................................................................... 5 B. Significant Portion of the Species’ Range ......................................................................... 6 C. Listing Factors ....................................................................................................................... 7 D. 90-Day and 12-Month Findings ......................................................................................... 7 E. Reasonable Person Standard ............................................................................................... 8 F. Best Available Scientific and Commercial Data ............................................................... 9 1. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature ....................................... 9 2. IUCN’s Assessment of the Oceanic Whitetip ........................................................... 11 III. SPECIES DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................... 11 A. Common Name .................................................................................................................... 11 B. Taxonomy .............................................................................................................................. 12 C. Physical Characteristics ........................................................................................................ 12 D. Habitat and Range ................................................................................................................ 13 E. Feeding ................................................................................................................................... 14 F. Reproduction and Lifespan ................................................................................................. 14 G. Population Trend .................................................................................................................. 15 1. Atlantic Ocean ................................................................................................................ 17 a. Northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ............................................................. 17 i. Northwest Atlantic ........................................................................................... 21 ii. Gulf of Mexico ................................................................................................. 22 iii. Northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Conclusion.................................. 23 b. Southwest and Equatorial Atlantic ....................................................................... 23 2. Pacific Ocean .................................................................................................................. 25 a. Western and Central Pacific .................................................................................. 25 i. CPUE ................................................................................................................. 26 ii. Biomass .............................................................................................................. 31 iii. Individual Size ................................................................................................... 35 b. Hawaiian Islands ..................................................................................................... 37 c. Eastern Pacific ......................................................................................................... 39 3. Indian Ocean .................................................................................................................. 40 IV. IDENTIFIED THREATS TO THE PETITIONED SPECIES: FACTORS FOR LISTING ...................... 45 A. The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or Range ...................................................................................................................................... 45 B. Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific or Educational Purposes ... 48 1. Atlantic Ocean ................................................................................................................ 56 a. Northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ............................................................. 57 b. Southwest and Equatorial Atlantic ....................................................................... 60 2. Pacific Ocean .................................................................................................................. 61 a. Western and Central Pacific .................................................................................. 61 b. Hawaiian Islands ..................................................................................................... 67 c. Eastern Pacific ......................................................................................................... 69 3. Indian Ocean .................................................................................................................. 72 C. Disease or Predation ............................................................................................................ 76 D. The Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms ..................................................... 76 2 1. Shark Finning Bans ........................................................................................................ 77 2. Other National and Local Measures ........................................................................... 78 a. Columbia .................................................................................................................. 81 b. United States ............................................................................................................ 82 c. State and Pacific Island Territory Shark Fin Trade Bans .................................. 84 3. International Regulation................................................................................................ 84 a. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea .......................................... 85 b. CITES ....................................................................................................................... 85 4. RFMO Regulation ......................................................................................................... 86 a. IOTC ......................................................................................................................... 88 b. ICCAT ...................................................................................................................... 89 c. WCPFC..................................................................................................................... 90 d. IATTC ...................................................................................................................... 92 E. Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting its Continued Existence ..................... 92 1. K-Selected ....................................................................................................................... 92 2. Synergistic Effects .......................................................................................................... 94 V. DISTINCT POPULATION SEGMENTS ............................................................................................. 95 A. Discreteness .............................................................................................................................. 95 B. Significance ................................................................................................................................ 102 VI. CRITICAL HABITAT .......................................................................................................................... 103 VII. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................. 103 VIII. REFERENCES................................................................................................................................. 105 3 I. INTRODUCTION Petitioner, Defenders of Wildlife (“Defenders”) is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1.2 million members, supporters, and activists, Defenders is a leading advocate