[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 93 (Monday, May 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11748]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 678

[Docket No. 920409-3047; I.D. 050694H]

 

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 January 1 through June 30, 1994.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The closure is effective from 0001 hours local time May 
17, 1994, through June 30, 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 prepared by the Secretary of Commerce 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 first semiannual quota is available for harvest from January 1 
through June 30, 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 January 1 
through June 30, 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 May 17, 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 May 17, 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 
Office of Management and Budget review under E.O. 12866.

    Dated: May 10, 1994.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director of Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-11748 Filed 5-10-94; 3:54 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P