Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews for Six Foreign Elasmobranch Species

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

Notice; request for information.

NMFS announces the initiation of 5-year reviews of six foreign elasmobranch species: Argentine angelshark ( Squatina argentina), spiny angelshark ( S. guggenheim), narrownose smoothhound shark ( Mustelus schmitti), striped smoothhound shark ( M. fasciatus), common guitarfish ( Rhinobatos rhinobatos), and blackchin guitarfish ( R. cemciculus). The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years to determine whether a species should be removed from the list ( i.e., delisted), reclassified from an endangered species to a threatened species ( i.e., downlisted), or reclassified from a threatened species to an endangered species ( i.e., uplisted). The determination must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we request relevant data ( e.g., biology, threats, and conservation efforts) that have become available since the previous reviews of these species.

To allow us adequate time to conduct the 5-year reviews, we must receive your information no later than September 15, 2025. While we accept new information about any listed species at any time, information received after the date stated above may not be considered for these reviews.

Submit your information electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2025-0033 in the Search box. Click the “Comment” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.

Instructions: We may not consider comments or information sent by another method, to another address or individual, or received after the date stated above. All comments and information received are a part of the public record, and we will post the comments for public viewing on https://www.regulations.gov. All personal identifying information ( e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. We will accept anonymous comments. Enter “N/A” in the required fields to remain anonymous.