[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 146 (Monday, August 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18587]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 1, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 678
[Docket No. 920409-3047; I.D. 071994D
Atlantic Shark Fisheries
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 for the period July 1 through December 31, 1994.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 0001 hours local time August 10, 1994, through December
31, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C. Michael Bailey, 301-713-2347; Kevin
B. Foster, 508-281-9260; or Michael Justen 813-893-3161.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed by the
Secretary of Commerce according to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
for Atlantic Sharks 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 678.23(b)(1)(i) 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 second semiannual quota is available for harvest from July 1
through December 31, 1994.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), is required
under Sec. 678.24 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. 678.23(b)(1). When shark harvests reach, or are projected to
reach, a quota established under Sec. 678.23(b)(1), the AA is further
required under Sec. 678.24 to close the fishery.
The AA has determined, based on the reported catch and other
relevant factors, that the semiannual quota for the period July 1
through December 31, 1994, for large coastal sharks, in or from the
Western North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and
Caribbean Sea, will be attained by August 10, 1994. During this
closure, for vessels issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, possession 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. However, 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(a)(4), is prohibited, except for those that were harvested,
off-loaded, and sold, traded, or bartered prior to August 10, 1994, 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)(2). 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 OMB
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 26, 1994.
Joe P. Clem,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-18587 Filed 7-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
