Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Atlantic shark,
[Federal Register: March 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 56)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14154-14155]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24mr99-16]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 678
[I.D. 031899B]
Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Large Coastal Shark Species
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the commercial fishery for large coastal sharks conducted by persons aboard vessels issued a Federal Atlantic shark permit in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This action is necessary to ensure that the semiannual quota of 642 metric tons (mt) for the period January 1 through June 30, 1999, is not exceeded.
DATES: The closure is effective from 11:30 p.m. local time March 31, 1999, through June 30, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Schulze or Karyl Brewster-Geisz, 301-713-2347; fax 301-713-1917.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for Sharks of the Atlantic Ocean and its implementing regulations found at 50 CFR part 678 issued under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
Section 678.24(b) of the regulations provides for two semiannual quotas of large coastal sharks to be harvested from Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico waters by commercial fishers. The first semiannual quota of 642 mt is available for harvest from January 1 through June 30, 1999.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), is required under Sec. 678.25 to monitor the catch and landing statistics and, on the basis of these statistics, to determine when the catch of Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico sharks will equal any quota under Sec. 678.24(b). When shark harvests reach, or are projected to reach, a quota established under Sec. 678.24(b), the AA is further required under Sec. 678.25 to close the fishery.
Preliminary information indicates that approximately 71 percent of the available quota for large coastal sharks had been landed as of February 28, 1999. Accordingly, the AA has determined, based on the reported catch and other relevant factors, that the semiannual quota for the period January 1 through June 30, 1999, for large coastal sharks in or from the Western North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, will be attained as of March 31, 1999. During the closure, retention of large coastal sharks is prohibited for persons fishing aboard vessels issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, unless the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat, in which
[[Page 14155]]
case the vessel may retain up to two large coastal sharks per trip subject to the provisions of Sec. 678.25(a)(2). The sale, purchase, trade, or barter or attempted sale, purchase, trade, or barter of carcasses and/or fins of large coastal sharks harvested by a person aboard a vessel that has been issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, is prohibited, except for those that were harvested, offloaded, and sold, traded, or bartered prior to the closure, and were held in storage by a dealer or processor.
Persons fishing aboard vessels issued a Federal Atlantic shark permit under Sec. 678.4 are reminded that, as a condition of permit issuance, the vessel may not retain a large coastal shark during the closure, except as provided by Sec. 678.24(a). Fishing for pelagic and small coastal sharks may continue. The recreational fishery is not affected by this closure.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR part 678 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 19, 1999. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-7235Filed3-19-99; 4:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
