[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33394]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 678
[I.D. 120696A]
RIN 0648-AH77
Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Notice of Availability of Amendment 1
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management
plan; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Highly Migratory Species Division has
submitted Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Sharks of
the Atlantic Ocean (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by
NMFS. Written comments are requested from the public. Amendment 1 would
implement limited access measures for the Atlantic shark fisheries.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 28,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to William Hogarth, Acting Chief, Highly
Migratory Species Division (F/SF1), National Marine Fisheries Service,
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Requests for copies of
Amendment 1, which includes an environmental assessment and a
regulatory impact review, should be sent to Margo Schulze, Fishery
Biologist, Highly Migratory Species Division (F/SF1), National Marine
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Schulze or John Kelly, 301-713-
2347; fax: 301-713-1917.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for Atlantic sharks is managed
under the FMP prepared by NMFS under authority of section 304(g) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson
Act), as amended, and was implemented on April 26, 1993, through
regulations found at 50 CFR part 678.
If approved, Amendment 1 would redefine permits as directed or
incidental, develop eligibility criteria for these permits based on
historical participation, and specify rules for transferability of
permits. NMFS has determined that the Atlantic shark fishery is
overcapitalized, with an excessive number of permitted vessels relative
to current harvest levels. The objective of this amendment is to take a
first and significant step towards reducing fleet capacity to levels
more closely aligned with resource production by implementing limited
access, substantially reducing latent harvesting capacity, and
implementing measures to prevent further overcapitalization.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 30, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-33394 Filed 12-30-96; 4:57 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
