[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5061-5062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02236]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF967


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management 
Measures; 2018 Research Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: On November 3, 2017, NMFS published a notice inviting 
qualified commercial shark permit holders to submit applications to 
participate in the 2018 shark research fishery. The shark research 
fishery allows for the collection of fishery-dependent data for future 
stock assessments and cooperative research with commercial fishermen to 
meet the shark research objectives of the Agency. Every year, the 
permit terms and permitted activities (e.g., number of hooks and 
retention limits) specifically authorized for selected participants in 
the shark research fishery are designated depending on the scientific 
and research needs of the Agency, as well as the number of NMFS-
approved observers available. In order to inform selected participants 
of this year's specific permit requirements and ensure all terms and 
conditions of the permit are met, NMFS is holding a mandatory permit 
holder meeting (via conference call) for selected participants. The 
date and time of that meeting is announced in this notice.

DATES: A conference call will be held on February 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: A conference call will be conducted. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for information on how to access the conference call.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz or Guy DuBeck at 
(301) 427-8503 or Delisse Ortiz at (240) 681-9037.

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 Highly 
Migratory species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) is implemented by 
regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
    The final rule for Amendment 2 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (73 
FR 35778, June 24, 2008, corrected at 73 FR 40658, July 15, 2008) 
established, among other things, a shark research fishery to maintain 
time-series data for stock assessments and to meet NMFS' research 
objectives. The shark research fishery gathers important scientific 
data and allows selected commercial fishermen the opportunity to earn 
more revenue from selling the sharks caught, including sandbar sharks. 
Only the commercial shark fishermen selected to participate in the 
shark research fishery are authorized to land/harvest sandbar sharks 
subject to the sandbar quota available each year. The 2018 sandbar 
shark quota is 90.7 mt dw per year. The selected shark research fishery 
participants also have access to the research large coastal shark, 
small coastal shark, and pelagic shark quotas subject to retention 
limits and quotas per Sec. Sec.  635.24 and 635.27, respectively.
    On November 3, 2017 (82 FR 51218), NMFS published a notice inviting 
qualified commercial shark directed and

[[Page 5062]]

incidental permit holders to submit an application to participate in 
the 2018 shark research fishery. NMFS received six applications, of 
which all six applicants were determined to meet all the 
qualifications. NMFS selected all six qualified participants after 
considering how to meet research objectives in particular regions. NMFS 
expects to invite qualified commercial shark permit holders to submit 
an application for the 2019 shark research fishery later in 2018.
    As with past years, the 2018 permit terms and permitted activities 
(e.g., number of hooks and retention limits) specifically authorized 
for selected participants in the shark research fishery were designated 
depending on the scientific and research needs of the Agency, as well 
as the number of NMFS-approved observers available. In order to inform 
selected participants of this year's specific permit requirements and 
ensure all terms and conditions of the permit are met, per the 
requirements of Sec.  635.32 (f)(4), NMFS is holding a mandatory permit 
holder meeting via conference call.

Conference Call Date, Time, and Dial-in Number

    The conference call will be held on February 16, 2018, from 1:30 to 
3:30 p.m. (EST). Participants and interested parties should call 1-888-
942-9261 and use the passcode 8567825. Selected participants who do not 
attend will not be allowed to participate in the shark research 
fishery. While the conference call is mandatory for selected 
participants, other interested parties may call in and listen to the 
discussion.
    Selected participants are encouraged to invite their captain, crew, 
or anyone else who may assist them in meeting the terms and conditions 
of the shark research fishery permit.

    Dated: January 31, 2018.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02236 Filed 2-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P