[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21299]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 30, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 678

[Docket No. 920409-3047; I.D. 082294C]

 

Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Large Coastal Sharks

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

ACTION: Rescission of closure; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS rescinds the closure of the fishery for large coastal 
sharks conducted in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean 
Sea. Rescission of the closure of this fishery is necessary because new 
information indicates that the second semiannual quota for large 
coastal sharks has not been taken. Based on revised estimates of 
landings and projected catches, a new closure date is established.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The closure of August 10, 1994, is rescinded effective 
at 0000 hours, local time, September 1, 1994. The fishery for large 
coastal sharks is reopened effective 0001 hours local time September 1, 
1994, through October 10, 1994. The closure will be effective from 0001 
hours, local time, October 11, 1994, through December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C. Michael Bailey, 301-713-2347; 
Michael Justen, 813-570-5305; or Kevin B. Foster, 508-281-9260.

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)(3) of the regulations provides for two semiannual 
quotas of large coastal sharks to be harvested in or from the Western 
North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, 
by owners or operators of vessels permitted under Sec. 678.4. The 
adjusted second semiannual quota of 1,318 metric tons (mt) 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 sharks in 
or from the Western North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico 
and Caribbean Sea, will equal any quota under Sec. 678.23(b). When 
shark harvests reach, or are projected to reach, a quota established 
under Sec. 678.23(b), the AA is further required under Sec. 678.24 to 
close the fishery.
    The AA had determined, based on the best available data on reported 
catch and projections of future landings, that the semiannual quota for 
large coastal sharks in or from the Western North Atlantic Ocean, 
including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, for the period July 1 
through December 31, 1994, would be attained by August 10, 1994. 
Therefore, a closure notice was published in the Federal Register on 
August 1, 1994 (59 FR 38943), to take effect August 10, 1994.
    Upon further analysis of the landings data, including new 
information that became available since announcement of the closure 
date, the AA has determined that 656.95 mt of the 1,318 mt quota for 
the large coastal shark fishery remain unharvested. Therefore, the 
closure of August 10, 1994, is rescinded effective September 1, to 
allow an opportunity for shark fishermen to take their full allocation. 
The effective date of rescission has been established at September 1, 
1994, in response to industry's request for sufficient advance notice 
of the reopening of the large coastal shark fishery.
    The daily landing rates obtained from the revised estimates 
indicate that the remaining quota in the large coastal shark fishery 
could be harvested within 40 days. Therefore, it is projected that the 
available quota will be taken by October 10, 1994, and for vessels 
issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, possession of large coastal sharks 
from the management unit will be prohibited as of 0001 hours on October 
11, 1994. The AA is announcing this closure date in advance in response 
to industry's request for sufficient advance notice of the closure of 
the large coastal shark fishery.
    During the 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 is prohibited, except for those that 
were harvested, off-loaded, and sold, traded, or bartered prior to 
October 10, 1994, and were held in storage by a dealer or processor.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR part 678 and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

    Dated: August 24, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-21299 Filed 8-24-94; 4:07 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F