[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64307-64308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25830]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-AW65


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management 
Measures

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

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In order to provide additional opportunities for the public, 
the Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic and 
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, and other interested parties 
to comment on the Notice of Intent (NOI) and issues and options scoping 
presentation for Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), NMFS is extending the 
scoping comment period for this action. On May 7, 2008, NMFS published 
an NOI to initiate an amendment to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, 
including an Environmental Impact Statement. On July 2, 2008, NMFS 
published a notice that announced the availability of an issues and 
options scoping presentation describing potential measures for 
inclusion in Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and provided

[[Page 64308]]

details for four scoping meetings to discuss and collect comments on 
these issues. Based on the July 2, 2008, notice, the comment period was 
scheduled to conclude on October 31, 2008. NMFS is now extending the 
comment period until November 14, 2008. Comments received by NMFS on 
the NOI and issues and options scoping presentation as well as in the 
scoping meetings will be used in the development of Amendment 3 to the 
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP.

DATES: The deadline for comments on the NOI and the issues and options 
scoping presentation has been extended from October 31, 2008, as 
published on July 2, 2008 (73 FR 37932), to 5:00 p.m. on November 14, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: As published on July 2, 2008 (73 FR 37932), written comments 
on this action should be sent to Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Highly Migratory 
Species Management Division, by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include the following 
identifier in the subject line: ``Scoping Comments on Amendment 3 to 
Consolidated HMS FMP''.
     Written: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Scoping Comments on Amendment 
3 to Consolidated HMS FMP.''
     Fax: (301) 713-1917.
    For a copy of the related stock assessments or any other related 
documents, please contact Jessica Beck at (301) 713-2347.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Beck at (301) 713-2347, or 
Jackie Wilson at (240) 338-3936.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP is 
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
    On May 7, 2008 (73 FR 25665), NMFS published an NOI that summarized 
the 2007 Small Coastal Shark (SCS) stock assessment conducted for 
Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, bonnethead, and finetooth sharks. The 
NOI also described NMFS's determination of the status of these stocks 
based on the results of the 2007 stock assessment, including the 
determination that blacknose sharks are overfished with overfishing 
occurring. As a result of this determination, NMFS is taking steps to 
amend current shark management measures via a third FMP amendment to 
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. On July 2, 2008 (73 FR 37932), NMFS 
published a notice that announced the availability of an issues and 
options scoping presentation describing potential measures for 
inclusion in Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and provided 
details for four scoping meetings to discuss and collect comments on 
these issues. NMFS anticipates completing this amendment and any 
related documents by January 1, 2010.
    Due to the timing of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council's meeting at the end of October, NMFS is extending the comment 
period to provide additional opportunity for the public, the Atlantic 
Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic and Gulf States 
Marine Fisheries Commissions, and other interested parties to comment 
on potential SCS management measures. These comments will assist NMFS 
in determining the options for rulemaking to conserve and manage shark 
resources and fisheries, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP.

    Dated: October 24, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-25830 Filed 10-28-08; 8:45 am]
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