[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 98 (Monday, May 22, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27042-27043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12478]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 051595H]


Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Large Coastal Shark Species

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 of 1285 metric tons (mt) for the period January 1 
through June 30, 1995.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The closure is effective from 11:30 P.M. local time May 
31, 1995, through June 30, 1995.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed by 
NMFS according to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Sharks 
prepared by NMFS under [[Page 27043]] 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) 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 of 1,285 mt is available for harvest from January 1 
through June 30, 1995.
    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, 1995, 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 31, 1995. During this closure, for vessels 
issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, retention 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. Also, 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, offloaded, and sold, traded, or 
bartered prior to May 31, 1995, 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 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: May 16, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-12478 Filed 5-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F