[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 145 (Friday, July 26, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 39099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19048]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 071596G]


Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Quota Adjustment

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

ACTION: Quota adjustment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the catch of large coastal sharks in the 
Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico was 1,402 metric tons (mt) 
during the first semiannual 1996 season. Because of the overharvest of 
this category quota, the second semiannual 1996 quota is adjusted 
accordingly.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 16, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C. Michael Bailey; 301-713-2347; Mark 
Murray-Brown; 508-281-9260; or John M. Ward; 813-570-5335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico 
shark fisheries are managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Sharks prepared by NMFS 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 678.24(b) of the regulations provides for two semi-annual 
quotas of 1,285 mt of large coastal sharks to be harvested from 
Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico waters by commercial fishermen. 
The first semiannual quota was available for harvest from January 1 
through June 30, 1996.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, is authorized 
under Sec. 678.23(c) to adjust the semiannual quota to reflect actual 
catches during the preceding semiannual period.
    With this action NMFS announces the size of the quota of Atlantic 
large coastal sharks group during the second semiannual 1996 quota 
period. Final data indicate that the catch from January through May 17, 
1996, of large coastal shark species totaled 1,402 mt, which is 117 mt 
more than the established quota. Therefore, the adjusted quota for 
large coastal shark species for the second 1996 semiannual period is 
decreased from 1,285 mt to 1,168 mt. The adjusted quota of 1,168 mt is 
available for the period July 1 through December 31, 1996.

Classification

    This rule is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

    Dated: July 16, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-19048 Filed 7-23-96; 3:59 pm]
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