[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 4239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2107]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 092396B]


Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Extension of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS extends the comment period for a proposed rule to adjust 
quotas and bag limits in the Atlantic Shark Fishery that was published 
in the Federal Register on December 20, 1996. The proposed rule would 
establish quotas and bag limits and implement prohibitions and 
requirements to reduce effective fishing mortality, facilitate 
enforcement, and improve management.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed rule must be received on or 
before February 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to William T. Hogarth, 
Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1), Office of 
Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 14853, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C. Michael Bailey or John Kelly, 301-
713-2347; fax 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Although NMFS previously extended the 
comment period from January 21, 1997, to January 24, 1997 (62 FR 1872, 
January 14, 1997), NMFS has received requests from the affected public 
that more time is necessary to submit their comments on the Atlantic 
shark fishery proposed rule (61 FR 67295, December 20, 1996). The 
proposed rule, as published, would reduce commercial quotas and 
recreational bag limits; establish a quota for small coastal sharks; 
prohibit the directed commercial fishing for, and landing or sale of, 
five species of sharks; establish a recreational tag-and-release only 
fishery for white sharks; prohibit filleting of sharks at sea; and 
restate the requirement for species-specific identification by all 
owners or operators, dealers, and tournament operators of all sharks 
landed.

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

    Dated: 23 January 1997.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-2107 Filed 1-24-97; 10:00 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F