[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16656-16657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8755]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 031797B]


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 because the semiannual quota of 
642 metric tons (mt) for the period January 1 through June 30, 1997 has 
been exceeded.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The closure is effective from 11:30 p.m. local time 
April 7, 1997, through June 30, 1997.


[[Page 16657]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C. Michael Bailey, John Kelly or Margo 
B. Schulze, 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed by 
NMFS according to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Sharks 
prepared by NMFS under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 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 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 642 mt is available for harvest from January 1 
through June 30, 1997.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), is required 
under Sec. 678.25 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. 678.24(b). When shark harvests reach, or are projected to reach, a 
quota established under Sec. 678.24(b), the AA is further required 
under Sec. 678.25 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, 1997, for large coastal sharks, in or from the Western 
North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, 
had been attained as of March 14, 1997. During the closure retention of 
large coastal sharks from the management unit is prohibited for vessels 
issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, unless the vessel is operating as a 
charter vessel or headboat, in which case the vessel limit per trip is 
two 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, is prohibited, except for those 
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, except as provided by 
Sec. 678.24(a). 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: April 1, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-8755 Filed 4-2-97; 8:54 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P