[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47598-47599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20457]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 180212159-8159-01]
RIN 0648-BH75


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Shortfin Mako Shark Management 
Measures; Proposed Amendment 11; Comment Period Extension

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 47599]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS previously published, on July 27, 2018, a proposed rule 
to amend the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) based on the results of the 2017 stock 
assessment and a subsequent binding recommendation by the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for North 
Atlantic shortfin mako sharks. The comment period on the proposed rule 
ends on October 1, 2018. In this extension of comment period, NMFS is 
extending the comment period to October 8, 2018, to provide an 
opportunity for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) 
to be briefed, and to provide additional opportunities for the Council 
and other interested parties to comment on the proposed rule.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments on the proposed rule 
published on July 27, 2018 (83 FR 35637) is extended from October 1, 
2018 to October 8, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the referenced proposed rule 
published on July 27, 2018 (83 FR 35637), identified by NOAA-NMFS-2018-
0011, by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0011, click the 
``Comment Now'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach 
your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Gu[yacute] DuBeck, NMFS/
SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC3, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Instructions: Please include the identifier NOAA-NMFS-2018-0011 
when submitting comments. Comments sent by any other method, to any 
other address or individual, or received after the close of the comment 
period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part 
of the public record and generally will be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gu[yacute] DuBeck or Karyl Brewster-
Geisz at (301) 427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Atlantic shortfin mako stock is 
managed primarily under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
also under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). The 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments are implemented by regulations 
at 50 CFR part 635.
    On July 27, 2018 (83 FR 35637), NMFS published a proposed rule that 
announced NMFS' intent to amend the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP 
based on the results of the 2017 stock assessment and a subsequent 
binding recommendation by the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for North Atlantic shortfin mako 
sharks. The North Atlantic shortfin mako shark stock is overfished and 
is experiencing overfishing. Consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the 
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), NMFS is proposing management 
measures that would reduce fishing mortality on shortfin mako sharks 
and establish a foundation for rebuilding the shortfin mako shark 
population consistent with legal requirements. In the proposed rule, 
the end of the comment period was announced as October 1, 2018. 
However, due to Hurricane Florence, the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council postponed its previously scheduled meeting by 
several weeks. Without an extension of the comment period, the Council 
would be unable to receive the same briefing provided to other Councils 
prior to providing comments on Amendment 11. As such, NMFS is extending 
the comment period to provide an opportunity to be briefed and an 
additional opportunity for the South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council and other interested parties to comment on the proposed rule. 
Therefore, the comment period for the proposed rule is extended to 
October 8, 2018.

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


    Dated: September 17, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-20457 Filed 9-19-18; 8:45 am]
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