[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 212 (Thursday, November 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27221]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 678

[Docket No. 920409-3047; I.D. 102594A]

 

Atlantic Shark Fisheries

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the closure of the Federal commercial fishery 
for large coastal sharks 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: 11:30 p.m. local time November 4, 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 the closure date. After 11:30 p.m. 
on November 4, 1994, 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 
sharks that were harvested, offloaded, and sold, traded, or bartered 
prior to the closure, 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, regardless of where 
harvested, 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 
review under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 28, 1994.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-27221; Filed 10-28-94; 4:14 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F