[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 30123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8049]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 051706A]


Stock Assessment of Dusky Shark in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of a stock assessment report 
on dusky sharks in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, prepared by the 
NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center. The stock assessment 
summarizes the relevant biological data, discusses the fisheries 
affecting the species, and details the data and methods used to assess 
stock status. Some recommendations were also made regarding future 
avenues of research and issues to consider in future stock assessments.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the report should be sent to Sarah 
McTee, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1), National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910, or may be sent via facsimile (fax) to 301-713-1917 or phone 
301-713-2347. Electronic copies of the stock assessment may also be 
obtained on the internet at: http://www.sefscpanamalab.noaa.gov/shark/pdf/Dusky_Shark_Assessment.zip.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the methods, data, 
and results of the stock assessment, contact Enric Cortes by phone at 
(850) 234-6541 or by fax at (850) 235-3559.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) is 
one of 19 species for which retention is prohibited under the Fishery 
Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks implemented 
and amended in 1999 and 2003, respectively. Due to potential 
identification problems and catch data originating from a variety of 
sources, the magnitude of dusky shark catch has been difficult to 
ascertain. The dusky shark has not previously been individually 
assessed; however, low population growth rates, coupled with declines 
in both the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and size of individuals landed 
since the early 1990s, created concern that the dusky shark was being 
heavily exploited.
    Using recent biological data on the growth and reproduction of 
dusky sharks, landing estimates from recreational and commercial 
fisheries, commercial bycatch estimates, four fishery-dependent and one 
fishery-independent relative abundance indices, a stock assessment was 
recently completed for the dusky shark. Results from the models used 
were very similar with all models showing the stock has been heavily 
exploited. The baseline analyses using surplus production models 
indicate that current depletions are over 80 percent of virgin biomass. 
The age-structured model provided the most optimistic results and 
indicated that the dusky shark population has been depleted by 62 to 80 
percent of the unfished virgin biomass. The stock assessment summarizes 
the relevant biological data, discusses the fisheries affecting the 
species, and details the data and methods used to assess stock status. 
Some recommendations were also made regarding future avenues of 
research and issues to consider in future stock assessments.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 22, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-8049 Filed 5-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S