Environmental Assessment of the Effects Scientific Research and Enhancement Activities Would Have on Endangered Black Abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) Under Proposed Permit 26342

NMFS WCR proposes to issue Scientific Research and Enhancement Permit 26342 (and subsequent permit renewals) under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) and thereby allow them to rescue and relocate endangered black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) in response to emergency events. Permit 26342 and subsequent permit renewals would authorize UCSC to: collect and remove black abalone from the wild, hold the rescued black abalone in captivity for one day to several months, release them to field sites, and conduct post-release monitoring. If UCSC seeks and receives NMFS’s approval, they may also use a subset of the rescued abalone in spawning, culturing, and experimental outplanting studies. All activities would be conducted in rocky intertidal reefs along the California coast within the range of black abalone as well as at approved land-based facilities. NMFS WCR did not identify any potential significant impacts or known issues or problems with the project.