[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14837-14838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8113]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 032098A]


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 persons aboard vessels issued a Federal Atlantic 
shark permit in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of 
Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This action is necessary to ensure that 
the semiannual quota of 642 metric tons (mt) for the period January 1 
through June 30, 1998, is not exceeded.

DATES: The closure is effective from 11:30 p.m. local time March 31, 
1998, through June 30, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Schulze or Karyl Brewster-Geisz, 
301-713-2347; fax 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed under 
the Fishery Management Plan for Sharks of the Atlantic Ocean and its 
implementing regulations found at 50 CFR part 678 issued under 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
    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 fishers. The first 
semiannual quota of 642 mt is available for harvest from January 1 
through June 30, 1998.
    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.

[[Page 14838]]

    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, 1998, for large coastal sharks in or from the Western 
North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, 
will be attained as of March 31, 1998. During the closure, retention of 
large coastal sharks is prohibited for persons fishing aboard vessels 
issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, unless the vessel is operating as a 
charter vessel or headboat, in which case the vessel may retain up to 
two large coastal sharks per trip subject to the provisions of 
Sec. 678.25(a)(2). 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.
    Persons fishing aboard vessels issued a Federal Atlantic shark 
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: March 23, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-8113 Filed 3-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F