{"abstract":"We, NMFS, announce a 12-month finding and listing determination on a petition to list the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have completed a Status Review report of the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale in response to a petition submitted by the Natural Resources Defense Council. After reviewing the best scientific and commercial data available, including the Status Review report, and consulting with the Society for Marine Mammology's Committee on Taxonomy, we have determined that the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale is taxonomically a subspecies of the Bryde's whale thus meeting the ESA's definition of a species. Based on the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale's small population (likely fewer than 100 individuals), its life history characteristics, its extremely limited distribution, and its vulnerability to existing threats, we believe that the species faces a high risk of extinction. Based on these considerations, described in more detail within this action, we conclude that the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale is in danger of extinction throughout all of its range and meets the definition of an endangered species. We are soliciting information that may be relevant to inform both our final listing determination and designation of critical habitat.","action":"Proposed rule, request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","id":361,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/361","parent_id":54,"slug":"national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2016/12/08/2016-29412.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":224,"title":50}],"citation":"81 FR 88639","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2017-01-30","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Information and comments on the subject action must be received by January 30, 2017. For the specific date of the public hearing, see Public Hearing section.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. 141216999-6999-02"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[],"agency_name":"NOAA","documents":[{"comment_count":955,"comment_start_date":"2016-12-08","updated_at":"2023-02-28T15:50:18.511-05:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2014-0157-0011","allow_late_comments":null,"id":"NOAA-NMFS-2014-0157-0011","comment_end_date":"2017-02-24","regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":0,"id":"NOAA-NMFS-2014-0157","title":"Response to a Petition to List Gulf of Mexico Bryde's under Endangered Species Act"}],"document_number":"2016-29412","effective_on":null,"end_page":88656,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2016/12/08/2016-29412.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/08/2016-29412/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-notice-of-12-month-finding-on-a-petition-to-list-the","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2016-29412?publication_date=2016-12-08","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2016-12-08/2016-29412/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":18,"page_views":{"count":1770,"last_updated":"2026-04-05 00:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-12-08/pdf/2016-29412.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-29412.pdf?1481118348","publication_date":"2016-12-08","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2016/12/08/2016-29412.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0648-XD66":null},"regulation_id_numbers":["0648-XD66"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"comments_count":955,"agency_id":"NOAA","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0157","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2014-0157","document_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2014-0157-0011","regulation_id_number":null,"title":"Response to a Petition to List Gulf of Mexico Bryde's under Endangered Species Act","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2023-02-28T20:50:17Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":88639,"subtype":null,"title":"Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Notice of 12-Month Finding on a Petition To List the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's Whale as Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)","toc_doc":"12-Month Finding on a Petition to List the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's Whale as Endangered","toc_subject":"Endangered and Threatened Species:","topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Endangered and threatened species","Exports","Imports","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Transportation"],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":81}