[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 169 (Wednesday, September 1, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47713-47714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22672]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[I.D. 052499C]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fisheries; Large Coastal
Shark Species; Adjustments
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Fishery reopening; fishing season notification.
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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the large coastal shark (LCS)
commercial fishery quota for the second semiannual fishing season has
not been reached. Therefore, NMFS notifies eligible participants that
the commercial fishery for LCS in the Western North Atlantic Ocean,
including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, will open beginning
September 1, 1999, and will close September 30, 1999, at 11:30 p.m.
local time. Both the ridgeback and non-ridgeback sectors of the LCS
fishery will open and close on these dates. This action is necessary to
ensure adequate opportunity for eligible fishery participants to
harvest the available quota and to ensure that the adjusted semiannual
quota for LCS for the period July 1 through December 31, 1999, is not
exceeded.
DATES: The commercial fishery for LCS will open effective September 1,
1999, and will close effective 11:30 p.m. local time September 30,
1999, and will remain closed through December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Schulze or Steve Meyers, 301-
713-2347; fax 301-713-1917.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed under
the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks
(HMS FMP), and its implementing regulations found at 50 CFR part 635
issued under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
The annual commercial quota of LCS to be harvested from Atlantic,
Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico waters is apportioned between two equal
semiannual fishing seasons. The second semiannual quota for LCS of 642
mt dw was reduced by the overharvest of 57 mt dw in the first
semiannual fishing season such that 585 mt dw was available for harvest
for the semiannual period beginning July 1, 1999.
Dealer reports and state landings summaries for the period July 1
through July 28, 1999, indicate that approximately 278.5 mt dw of the
available second semiannual LCS subquota of 585 mt dw have been
harvested at a rate of 9.9 mt dw per day. Approximately 306.5 mt dw of
the LCS subquota have not been harvested. Therefore, given a catch rate
of approximately 9.9 mt dw per day, NMFS believes that the available
quota will be attained within 30 days and that a LCS commercial fishery
reopening from September 1 through September 30, 1999, will allow
adequate opportunity for fishermen to harvest the available quota and
will ensure that the quota is not exceeded. Therefore, the LCS
commercial fishery will open
[[Page 47714]]
beginning September 1, 1999, and will close at 11:30 p.m. local time
September 30, 1999, and will remain closed through December 31, 1999.
NMFS will continue to monitor landings and will close the fishery if
landings indicate that the quota will be exceeded, as required under
Sec. 635.28(b).
During a closure, retention of, fishing for, possessing or selling
LCS are prohibited for persons fishing aboard vessels issued a limited
access permit under Sec. 635.4. After September 30, 1999, the sale,
purchase, trade, or barter of carcasses and/or fins of LCS harvested by
a person aboard a vessel that has been issued a permit under Sec. 635.4
are prohibited, except for those that were harvested, offloaded, and
sold, traded, or bartered prior to the closure and were held in storage
by a dealer or processor.
Commercial fishing for pelagic and small coastal sharks may
continue until further notice. When quotas are projected to be reached,
the AA will file notice of closure at the Office of the Federal
Register. Those vessels that have not been issued a limited access
permit under Sec. 635.4 may not sell sharks and are subject to the
recreational retention limits and size limits specified at
Secs. 635.22(c) and 635.20(d). The recreational fishery is not affected
by this action.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR part 635 and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 26, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-22672 Filed 8-26-99; 4:54 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
