[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33394]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 120696A]
RIN 0648-AH77


Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Notice of Availability of Amendment 1

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management 
plan; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Highly Migratory Species Division has 
submitted Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Sharks of 
the Atlantic Ocean (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by 
NMFS. Written comments are requested from the public. Amendment 1 would 
implement limited access measures for the Atlantic shark fisheries.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 28, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to William Hogarth, Acting Chief, Highly 
Migratory Species Division (F/SF1), National Marine Fisheries Service, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Requests for copies of 
Amendment 1, which includes an environmental assessment and a 
regulatory impact review, should be sent to Margo Schulze, Fishery 
Biologist, Highly Migratory Species Division (F/SF1), National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Schulze or John Kelly, 301-713-
2347; fax: 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for Atlantic sharks is managed 
under the FMP prepared by NMFS under authority of section 304(g) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson 
Act), as amended, and was implemented on April 26, 1993, through 
regulations found at 50 CFR part 678.
    If approved, Amendment 1 would redefine permits as directed or 
incidental, develop eligibility criteria for these permits based on 
historical participation, and specify rules for transferability of 
permits. NMFS has determined that the Atlantic shark fishery is 
overcapitalized, with an excessive number of permitted vessels relative 
to current harvest levels. The objective of this amendment is to take a 
first and significant step towards reducing fleet capacity to levels 
more closely aligned with resource production by implementing limited 
access, substantially reducing latent harvesting capacity, and 
implementing measures to prevent further overcapitalization.

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

    Dated: December 30, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-33394 Filed 12-30-96; 4:57 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F