[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 150 (Wednesday, August 5, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20828]



[[Page 41736]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 073098A]


Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Large Coastal Shark Species

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

ACTION: Closure.

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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 adjusted second semiannual quota for the period July 1 through 
December 31, 1998, is not exceeded.

DATES: The closure is effective from 11:30 p.m. local time August 4, 
1998, through December 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Schulze or Karyl Brewster-Geisz, 
301-713-2347, fax 301-713-1917; or Buck Sutter, 727-570-5447, fax 727-
570-5364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed under 
the Fishery Management Plan for Sharks of the Atlantic Ocean and its 
implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 678 and 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 second 
semiannual quota is available for harvest from July 1 through December 
31, 1998.
    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.
    The first semiannual quota was available for harvest from January 1 
through June 30, 1998. Final data indicated that the catch of large 
coastal shark species from January 1 through March 31, 1998, totaled 
684.8 mt, which was 42 mt more than the established quota. Therefore, 
the adjusted quota for large coastal shark species for the second 1998 
semiannual period was decreased from 642 mt to 600 mt (63 FR 29355, May 
29, 1998).
    The AA has determined, based on the reported catch and other 
relevant factors, that the adjusted semiannual quota for the period 
July 1 through December 31, 1998, 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 August 3, 1998. 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 case the 
vessel may retain up to two large coastal sharks per trip subject to 
the provisions of Sec. 678.25(a)(2). The retention, 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: July 30, 1998.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-20828 Filed 7-30-98; 4:40 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F