[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 93 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 21978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11851]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 678
[I.D. 042696D]
Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Large Coastal Shark Species
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the commercial fishery for large coastal
sharks conducted by vessels with a Federal Atlantic shark permit in the
Western North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and
Caribbean Sea. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the
semiannual quota of 1285 metric tons (mt) for the period January 1
through June 30, 1996.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The closure is effective from 11:30 p.m. local time May
17, 1996, through June 30, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C. Michael Bailey, 301-713-2347; Kevin
B. Foster, 508-281-9260; or John M. Ward 813-570-5335.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed by
NMFS according to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Sharks
prepared by NMFS under authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Fishing by U.S. vessels is
governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR part 678.
Section 678.24(b) of the regulations provides for two semiannual
quotas of large coastal sharks to be harvested from Atlantic,
Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico waters by commercial fishermen. The first
semiannual quota of 1,285 mt is available for harvest from January 1
through June 30, 1996.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), is required
under Sec. 678.25 to monitor the catch and landing statistics and, on
the basis of these statistics, to determine when the catch of Atlantic,
Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico sharks will equal any quota under
Sec. 678.24(b). When shark harvests reach, or are projected to reach, a
quota established under Sec. 678.24(b), the AA is further required
under Sec. 678.25 to close the fishery.
The AA has determined, based on the reported catch and other
relevant factors, that the semiannual quota for the period January 1
through June 30, 1996, for large coastal sharks, in or from the Western
North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea,
will be attained by May 17, 1996. During this closure, for vessels
issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, retention of large coastal sharks
from the management unit is prohibited, unless the vessel is operating
as a charter vessel or headboat, in which case, the vessel limit per
trip is four large coastal sharks. Also, the sale, purchase, trade, or
barter or attempted sale, purchase, trade, or barter of carcasses and/
or fins of large coastal sharks harvested by a person aboard a vessel
that has been issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, is prohibited, except
for those that were harvested, offloaded, and sold, traded, or bartered
prior to May 17, 1996, and were held in storage by a dealer or
processor.
Vessels that have been issued a Federal permit under Sec. 678.4 are
reminded that, as a condition of permit issuance, the vessel may not
retain a large coastal shark during the closure, except as provided by
Sec. 678.24(a). Fishing for pelagic and small coastal sharks may
continue. The recreational fishery is not affected by this closure.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR part 678 and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. et seq.
Dated: May 6, 1996
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11851 Filed 5-8-96; 2:28 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
