97-4656. Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Limited Access Program; Extension of Comment Period

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4656]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 121196A]


Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Limited Access Program; Extension of 
Comment Period

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

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS extends the comment period for a proposed rule and 
Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Sharks (FMP) to 
implement the limited access system. The proposed rule was published in 
the Federal Register on December 27, 1996. The proposed rule would 
establish a two-tiered permit system for the Atlantic shark commercial 
fishery, set forth eligibility criteria for these permits based on 
historical participation, and limit the transferability of such 
permits.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed rule must be received on or 
before April 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to William T. Hogarth, 
Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1), Office of 
Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 14853, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kelly or Margo Schulze at 301-
713-2347; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS has received requests from the affected 
public that more time is necessary to submit their comments on the 
Atlantic shark fishery proposed rule and FMP amendment to implement 
limited access (61 FR 68202, December 27, 1996). The extension in 
comment period will ensure that this proposed rule can be examined in 
conjunction with the proposed rule for limited access in the swordfish 
fishery, which is being published on the same date as this notice. The 
public has informed NMFS that it is essential to examine both proposals 
simultaneously in order to determine the net effect of the two proposed 
limited access systems.
    The proposed rule, as published, would establish a two-tiered 
permit system for the Atlantic shark commercial fishery, set forth 
eligibility criteria for these permits based on historical 
participation, and limit the transferability of such permits. NMFS has 
determined that the Atlantic shark fishery is overfished and 
overcapitalized, with an excessive number of permitted vessels relative 
to the harvest level prescribed by the recovery plan.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 19, 1997.
Gary Matlock,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4656 Filed 2-20-97; 5:05 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F