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[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 93 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 21978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11851]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 042696D]

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 vessels with a Federal Atlantic shark permit in the 
Western North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and 
Caribbean Sea. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
semiannual quota of 1285 metric tons (mt) for the period January 1 
through June 30, 1996.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The closure is effective from 11:30 p.m. local time May 
17, 1996, through June 30, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C. Michael Bailey, 301-713-2347; Kevin 
B. Foster, 508-281-9260; or John M. Ward 813-570-5335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed by 
NMFS according to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Sharks 
prepared by NMFS under authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Fishing by U.S. vessels is 
governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR part 678.
    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 fishermen. The first 
semiannual quota of 1,285 mt is available for harvest from January 1 
through June 30, 1996.
    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 AA has determined, based on the reported catch and other 
relevant factors, that the semiannual quota for the period January 1 
through June 30, 1996, for large coastal sharks, in or from the Western 
North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, 
will be attained by May 17, 1996. During this closure, for vessels 
issued a permit under Sec. 678.4, retention of large coastal sharks 
from the management unit is prohibited, unless the vessel is operating 
as a charter vessel or headboat, in which case, the vessel limit per 
trip is four large coastal sharks. Also, 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 May 17, 1996, and were held in storage by a dealer or 
processor.
    Vessels that have been issued a Federal 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. et seq.

    Dated: May 6, 1996
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11851 Filed 5-8-96; 2:28 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
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