[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35357-35358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14458]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC051


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Commercial Atlantic Region 
Non-Sandbar Large Coastal Shark Fishery Opening Date

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

ACTION: Notice; fishery opening date.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing the opening date of the commercial Atlantic 
region non-sandbar large coastal shark fishery. This action is 
necessary to inform fishermen and dealers about the fishery opening 
date.

DATES: The commercial Atlantic region non-sandbar large coastal shark 
fishery will open on July 15, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz or Guy DuBeck, 
301-427-8503; fax 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed 
under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP), its amendments, and its implementing 
regulations found at 50 CFR part 635 issued under authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.).
    On January 24, 2012 (77 FR 3393), the National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) published a final rule that established quota levels and 
opening dates for the 2012 Atlantic commercial shark fisheries. In the 
final rule, we stated that the 2012 Atlantic non-sandbar large coastal 
shark (LCS) fishery would open on either the effective date of the 
final rule implementing the Atlantic HMS electronic dealer

[[Page 35358]]

reporting system (76 FR 37750; June 28, 2011) or July 15, 2012, 
whichever occurs first. We are still working on integrating the 
Atlantic HMS electronic dealer reporting system with other existing and 
new electronic programs in the Northeast and Southeast regions. Once 
the electronic dealer system is available, we will conduct training 
workshops and webinars to introduce and train dealers how to use the 
new system before implementation. Thus, we do not expect the system to 
be in place before July 15, and will open the commercial Atlantic 
region non-sandbar LCS fishery on July 15, 2012.
    All of the shark fisheries will remain open until December 31, 
2012, unless we determine that the fishing season landings have 
reached, or are projected to reach, 80 percent of the available quota. 
At that time, consistent with Sec.  635.27(b)(1), we will file for 
publication with the Office of the Federal Register a closure action 
for that shark species group and/or region that will be effective no 
fewer than 5 days from the date of filing. From the effective date and 
time of the closure until we announce, via a Federal Register action 
that additional quota, if any, is available, the fishery for the shark 
species group and, for non-sandbar LCS, region will remain closed, even 
across fishing years, consistent with Sec.  635.28(b)(2).

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

    Dated: June 8, 2012.
Carrie D. Selberg,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-14458 Filed 6-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P