`[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2648-2673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00548]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 100825390-5012-02]
RIN 0648-BA17


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Large Coastal and Small 
Coastal Atlantic Shark Management Measures

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would implement Draft Amendment 6 to the 
2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP). Management measures in this proposed rulemaking are 
designed to respond to the problems facing Atlantic commercial shark 
fisheries, such as commercial landings that exceed the quotas, 
declining numbers of fishing permits since limited access was 
implemented, complex regulations, derby fishing conditions due to small 
quotas and short seasons, increasing numbers of regulatory discards, 
and declining market prices. The primary goal of Amendment 6 to the 
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (Amendment 6) is to implement management 
measures for the Atlantic shark fisheries that will achieve the 
objectives of increasing management flexibility to adapt to the 
changing needs of the Atlantic shark fisheries, and achieve optimum 
yield while rebuilding overfished shark stocks and ending overfishing. 
Specifically, this action proposes: Adjusting the large coastal sharks 
(LCS) retention limit for shark directed Limited Access Permit (LAP) 
holders; creating sub-regional quotas in the Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico regions for LCS and small coastal sharks (SCS); modifying the 
LCS and SCS quota linkages; establishing total allowable catches (TACs) 
and adjusting quotas for non-blacknose SCS in the Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico regions based on the results of the 2013 stock assessments for 
Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead sharks; and modifying upgrading 
restrictions for shark permit holders. The proposed measures could 
affect commercial shark fishermen fishing in the Atlantic Ocean 
including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 3, 2015. 
NMFS will hold 4 public hearings on Draft Amendment 6 and this 
implementing proposed rule on February 17, February 18, February 23, 
and February 26, 2015. NMFS will also hold an operator-assisted public 
hearing via conference call and webinar for this proposed rule on March 
25, 2015, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. For specific locations, dates and times 
see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2010-0188, 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-2010-

[[Page 2649]]

0188, click the ``Comment Now'' icon, complete the required fields, and 
enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Margo Schulze-Haugen, 
NMFS/SF1, 1315 East West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Instructions: Please include the identifier NOAA-NMFS-2010-0188 
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). 
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    NMFS will hold 4 public hearings and 1 conference call on this 
proposed rule. NMFS will hold public hearings in St. Petersburg, FL; 
Melbourne, FL; Belle Chasse, FL; and Manteo, NC; and via a public 
conference call. For specific locations, dates and times see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Copies of the supporting documents, including the draft 
Environmental Assessment (EA), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and the 2006 Consolidated 
Atlantic HMS FMP are available from the HMS Web site at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or by contacting LeAnn Hogan at 301-427-
8503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LeAnn Hogan, Gu[yacute] DuBeck, Alexis 
Jackson or Karyl Brewster-Geisz by phone: 301-427-8503, or by fax: 301-
713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic sharks are managed under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), and the authority to issue regulations has 
been delegated from the Secretary to the Assistant Administrator (AA) 
for Fisheries, NOAA. On October 2, 2006, NMFS published in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 58058) final regulations, effective November 1, 2006, 
implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, which details management 
measures for Atlantic HMS fisheries. The implementing regulations for 
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments are at 50 CFR part 
635. This proposed rule addresses implementation of Amendment 6.
    NMFS began considering management measures for Amendment 6 in 2010 
with the publication of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(ANPR) (75 FR 57235; September 10, 2010). The 2010 ANPR solicited 
public comments on potential adjustments to regulations governing the 
Atlantic shark fisheries to address several specific issues affecting 
the management of those fisheries. In the ANPR, NMFS discussed that 
since management of sharks began in 1993, there have been many changes 
to the regulations and major rules, either through FMP amendments or 
regulatory amendments, to respond to results of stock assessments, 
changes in stock status, and other fishery fluctuations. Despite 
modifications to the regulations and Amendments to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP to respond to these issues, the Atlantic shark 
fisheries continue to be faced with problems, such as commercial 
landings that exceed the quotas, declining numbers of fishing permits 
since limited access was implemented, complex regulations, derby 
fishing conditions due to small quotas and short seasons, increasing 
numbers of regulatory discards, and declining market prices. Rather 
than continuing to react to these issues every year with a new 
regulation, or every other year with a new FMP amendment, NMFS stated 
that it wanted the regulations to be more proactive in management and 
explore methods to establish more flexible regulations that would 
consider the changing needs of the fisheries. More specifically, the 
ANPR explored management ideas related to quota structure, permit 
structure, and catch shares. NMFS held several public meetings 
regarding the ANPR and received many comments.
    Based on the comments received on the ANPR, on September 16, 2011, 
NMFS published a Notice of Intent (NOI) (76 FR 57709) to prepare an FMP 
Amendment that would consider catch shares for the Atlantic shark 
fisheries. The NOI also established a control date for eligibility to 
participate in a catch share program and announced the availability of 
a white paper that explored potential design elements of a shark catch 
share program. NMFS held several public meetings and received many 
comments regarding the NOI.
    In addition to the changes in Federal regulations, while NMFS has 
been considering comments on the ANPR and the NOI, there have also been 
changes in state shark management. Since 2010, several states have 
passed legislation banning the possession, sale, trade, and 
distribution of shark fins. In addition, the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) recently made changes to the Atlantic 
state shark management measures. The ASMFC Coastal Shark Board made the 
decision to amend the Interstate Coastal Shark FMP to be consistent 
with NMFS' recent changes in Amendment 5a, and they have expressed 
their preference for NMFS to open the LCS management group in the 
Atlantic region after July 1 each year. The Shark Board also approved 
measures for each Atlantic state to implement a 12 percent fin-to-
carcass ratio for smooth dogfish, consistent with the 12 percent fin-
to-carcass ratio specified in the smooth dogfish-specific provisions of 
the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-348) (the SCA).
    In addition to these state measures, there have been international 
efforts to prohibit shark finning at sea, as well as campaigns targeted 
at the shark fin soup markets. All of these efforts, including the U.S. 
state shark fin possession bans, have impacted the market and demand 
for shark fins. In addition, NMFS has seen a steady decline in ex-
vessel prices for shark fins in all regions since 2010.
    In April 2014, NMFS released a Predraft for Amendment 6, providing 
NMFS with the opportunity to obtain additional information and input 
from HMS Advisory Panel (AP) members and HMS Consulting Parties 
(Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, Marine 
Fisheries Commissions, U.S. Coast Guard, and other State and Federal 
Agency representatives) on potential alternatives prior to development 
of the formal FMP Amendment and proposed rule. The Predraft explored 
potential management options for the future management of the Atlantic 
shark fisheries, taking into consideration comments received on the 
ANPR and NOI.
    Since issuing the ANPR, NOI, and Predraft, and after reviewing the 
comments received, NMFS has continued to consider various ways to 
address recurring issues and provide managers and fishermen with 
increased flexibility, while maintaining conservation measures. 
Additionally, there have continued to be changes in Federal and state 
management of the Atlantic shark fisheries that have affected the 
fishery and its communities. On May, 27 2014, NMFS published another 
NOI announcing (1) its intent to prepare an Environmental

[[Page 2650]]

Assessment (EA) instead of an Environmental Impact Statement, and (2) 
that the agency is moving away from the catch share concept for this 
particular Amendment. Thus, the public should largely be aware of the 
change in approach. Most recently, NMFS published a proposed rule (79 
FR 46217; August 7, 2014) to implement draft Amendment 9 to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP (Amendment 9), which considers management measures 
in the smoothhound and shark fisheries. Regulations proposed in this 
action would overlap and modify some regulations proposed in Amendment 
9.

Atlantic Sharpnose and Bonnethead Sharks Stock Assessment

    Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead sharks were both previously 
assessed in 2007 as part of the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review 
(SEDAR) process. At that time, the statuses of both species were 
determined to be not overfished, with no overfishing occurring. These 
species were assessed again in 2013 using ``standard'' assessments as 
part of SEDAR 34. Standard assessments generally update previous 
benchmark assessments with additional years of data and do not allow 
for major changes; standard assessments typically can be completed in 
approximately a year. On the first day of the face-to-face assessment 
workshop meeting held for both species, the scientists determined that 
the genetic information clearly indicated both species should be split 
into a Gulf of Mexico stock and an Atlantic stock. However, because the 
assessments had been scheduled as standard assessments as opposed to 
benchmark assessments, the assessment process and timing would not 
allow the scientists to make this change. Making such a change would 
have required four benchmark assessments rather than two standard 
assessments. It would have also required additional changes to the 
format and structure of the data that had not been anticipated and 
allowed for in the overall SEDAR schedule. Based on a request from 
fishery managers to continue with the standard assessments at that 
time, given that the previous assessments were over 5 years old and 
updated scientific advice was needed, the scientists agreed to continue 
with the standard assessment of both species as single stocks in order 
to provide management advice on the potential status of the stocks.
    Based on the results of SEDAR 34, NMFS decided to split the 
Atlantic sharpnose shark species into two stocks--an Atlantic stock and 
a Gulf of Mexico stock--and determined, based on the overall data for 
the species as a whole, that the status of both stocks is not 
overfished and no overfishing is occurring (79 FR 53024; September 5, 
2014). With regards to bonnethead sharks, NMFS also decided to split 
this stock into an Atlantic stock and a Gulf of Mexico stock, and 
determined, based on the overall data for the species as a whole, that 
the status of both bonnethead stocks is unknown (Id.). In this 
rulemaking, NMFS considers implementing total allowable catches (TAC) 
and commercial quotas for non-blacknose SCS (which is the management 
group that both Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead sharks are managed 
in) in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions based on the results of 
the SEDAR 34 assessment and while considering the results of the 2007 
finetooth stock assessment.
    NMFS prepared a draft EA, RIR, and IRFA to present and analyze 
anticipated environmental, social, and economic impacts of each 
alternative contained in this proposed rule. A summary of the 
alternatives considered and related analyses are provided below. The 
complete list of alternatives and related analyses are provided in the 
draft EA/RIR/IRFA. A copy of the draft EA/RIR/IRFA prepared for this 
proposed rule is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

Permit Stacking for Shark Directed LAP Holders

    NMFS considered permit stacking in the 2010 ANPR and requested 
public comments on this potential change to the shark permit structure. 
A permit stacking system would allow commercial fishermen with multiple 
shark LAPs to use them concurrently on one vessel, resulting in 
aggregated, and thus higher, retention limits.
    After analyzing the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of the 
permit stacking alternatives in the shark fishery, NMFS currently 
prefers the No Action alternative (Alternative A1) in this proposed 
rule. The No Action alterative would maintain the current shark 
directed LAP structure and would not implement permit stacking for 
these permit holders. Under this preferred alternative, NMFS would 
continue to allow only one directed LAP per vessel and thus one 
retention limit. In the short- and long-term, this preferred 
alternative is expected to have neutral direct ecological impacts on 
LCS stocks. Shark fishermen would continue to be limited by the current 
retention limit of 36 LCS per trip. By leaving the current permit 
structure in place under this alternative, and because the LCS quotas 
are not being modified in this action, it is likely that the No Action 
alternative would have neutral short- and long-term ecological impacts 
to the LCS stocks. With regards to socioeconomic impacts, the preferred 
alternative would result in potential trip revenues of $1,166 (1,224 lb 
of meat, 61 lb of fins) per vessel, assuming an ex-vessel price of 
$0.65 for meat and $6.05 for fins. Because current LCS quotas are being 
maintained, NMFS anticipates neutral direct socioeconomic impacts in 
the short-term and possibly minor adverse socioeconomic impacts in the 
long-term, because if fishermen are unable to retain an increased 
number of LCS per trip by stacking permits, the profitability of each 
trip could decline over time, due to declining prices for shark 
products and increasing prices for gas, bait and other associated 
costs. NMFS believes that while permit stacking may have beneficial 
socioeconomic impacts for those fishermen that already have multiple 
directed shark LAPs or that could afford to buy additional permits, 
permit stacking could possibly disadvantage those fishermen that are 
unable to buy additional permits. Because the majority of fishermen in 
the shark fishery have only one permit (in the Atlantic region, 130 of 
the 136 shark directed permits have different owners; in the Gulf of 
Mexico region, 73 of the 83 shark directed permits have different 
owners), permit stacking would not benefit most shark fishermen in the 
short-term, and it could possibly lead to inequity among directed shark 
LAP holders. NMFS believes that an increase in LCS retention limits for 
all directed LAP holders, as described in the Commercial Retention 
Limits section below, would have greater socioeconomic benefits across 
the entire shark fishery as a whole. Therefore, after considering the 
impacts of the permit stacking alternatives, NMFS prefers the No Action 
alternative to continue to allow only one directed LAP per vessel and 
thus one retention limit in this proposed rulemaking.
    NMFS also analyzed two other permit stacking alternatives in the 
Draft EA. The first, Alternative A2, would allow fishermen to use a 
maximum of 2 shark directed LAPs concurrently on one vessel, which 
would result in aggregated, and thus higher, retention limits. Under 
the current LCS retention limit of 36 LCS, this would mean that a 
vessel with 2 stacked permits would have a LCS retention limit of 72 
LCS per trip. Alternative A3 considers allowing fishermen to use a 
maximum of 3 shark directed LAPs concurrently on one vessel, which 
would result in aggregated, and thus higher, retention limits. Under 
the current LCS retention

[[Page 2651]]

limit of 36 LCS, this would mean that a vessel with 3 stacked LAPs 
would have a LCS retention limit of 108 LCS per trip. While these 
alternatives could result in increased annual revenues for shark 
directed LAP holders who currently own or could buy multiple LAPs, they 
are not preferred at this time because they could possibly lead to 
inequity among directed shark LAP holders. These alternatives would 
have beneficial socioeconomic impacts only for those shark fishermen 
that can afford to buy multiple shark permits, and thus would benefit 
from a higher retention limit and higher revenues, whereas those shark 
fishermen that cannot afford to buy a second or third directed shark 
permit would be at a disadvantage, unable to economically benefit from 
the higher retention limits. Given the way directed LAPs are currently 
held within the shark fishery, NMFS believes that an increase in LCS 
retention limits for all directed LAP holders, as described in the 
Commercial Retention Limits section below, would have greater 
socioeconomic benefits across the entire directed shark fishery as a 
whole. Therefore, after considering the impacts of the permit stacking 
alternatives, NMFS prefers the No Action alternative to continue to 
allow only one directed LAP per vessel and thus one retention limit in 
this proposed rulemaking.

Adjusting Commercial Retention Limits for Atlantic Shark Fisheries

    The current retention limit of 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks was 
established in Amendment 2 as part of the rebuilding plan for sandbar 
sharks. As described in Amendment 2, the retention limit was 
established by considering, among other things, how many sandbar sharks 
would be discarded dead from the number of shark trips that were 
expected to interact with sandbar sharks. Over the past few years, the 
shark research fishery, which is the only part of the shark fisheries 
that can land and sell sandbar sharks, has not been catching the full 
sandbar research fishery quota. During the Predraft stage, NMFS 
received extensive comments from commercial fishermen and Atlantic HMS 
Advisory Panel members to consider adjusting the retention limits 
instead of allowing commercial fishermen to land sandbar sharks outside 
of the Atlantic shark research fishery. Thus, NMFS is considering 
adjusting the commercial LCS retention limit for shark directed LAP 
holders based on public comment.
    The preferred alternative (Alternative B2) would increase the 
retention limit for LCS in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions from 
36 to a maximum of 55 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip and reduce 
the sandbar shark research fishery quota to 75.7 mt dw (166,826 lb dw). 
To determine the impacts of this alternative, NMFS used the same 
methodology used in Amendment 2 to calculate how many sandbar sharks 
could potentially be discarded dead by vessels harvesting the 55 LCS 
other than sandbar shark retention limit. Because harvesting additional 
LCS per trip could result in additional sandbar sharks being discarded 
dead, this additional mortality would be counted against the 
unharvested sandbar shark research fishery quota, and NMFS would reduce 
the sandbar shark research fishery quota accordingly. Thus overall, 
NMFS does not expect the mortality of sandbar sharks to increase as a 
result of the increased retention limit under this alternative. Since 
the sandbar shark research fishery quota was previously analyzed in 
Amendment 2, and would be reduced from 116.6 to 75.7 mt dw in order to 
account for increased discards under a retention limit of 55 LCS per 
trip, this alternative would have short- and long-term neutral 
ecological impacts on sandbar sharks. In addition, the retention limit 
increase under this preferred alternative would result in neutral 
direct and indirect ecological impacts to the different LCS management 
groups and species, because the quotas for the different LCS management 
groups and species are not being modified in this rulemaking and 
fishermen would continue to be limited by the total amount of LCS that 
could be harvested, as well as by seasonal closures once 80 percent of 
the quota is reached.
    With regards to socioeconomic impacts, this new retention limit 
would result in potential total trip revenues of $1,781 (1,870 lb of 
meat, 94 lb of fins), assuming an ex-vessel price of $0.65 for meat and 
$6.05 for fins. The preferred alternative would have short- and long-
term direct and indirect minor beneficial socioeconomic impacts since 
shark directed permit holders could land more sharks per trip when 
compared to the current retention limit of 36 LCS per trip. The higher 
retention limit is likely to make each trip more profitable for 
fishermen, as well as more efficient, if they decide to take fewer 
trips, and in turn save money on fuel, bait, and other associated 
costs.
    NMFS also analyzed three other retention limit alternatives that 
are not preferred at this time. The No Action alternative (Alternative 
B1) would maintain the current commercial LCS retention limit for 
directed permit holders. While this would have short- and long-term 
neutral ecological impacts on LCS fisheries, this option denies 
commercial shark fishermen additional opportunities to harvest LCS 
within their current quotas. Due to limited resources available to fund 
observed trips, the sandbar quota in the research fishery has not been 
fully harvested in recent years (e.g., 35 percent of the available 
sandbar shark quota was landed in 2012). As such, NMFS believes that it 
is appropriate to reconsider the LCS retention limit to ensure 
commercial fishermen have an opportunity to harvest the available 
various LCS management group quotas in an efficient manner. Another 
alternative, Alternative B3, would increase the LCS retention limit to 
a maximum of 72 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip and reduce the 
Atlantic shark research fishery quota to 63.0 mt dw (138,937 lb dw) for 
sandbar sharks. The increased retention limit to 72 LCS other than 
sandbar sharks per trip could result in 2,448 lb dw of LCS per trip. 
While increasing the retention limit could result in more efficient and 
profitable shark directed trips, this increased retention limit is 
closer to the historical retention limit of 4,000 lb dw and could cause 
fishermen to re-enter the fishery because of the higher retention 
limit. If this occurs, these fishermen may not have fished under the 
non-sandbar LCS regulations and might not be able to avoid catching 
sandbar sharks while fishing for the other LCS species, which could 
lead to increased discards and potential adverse impacts to sandbar 
sharks. Also, if fishermen increase the number of hooks per set 
substantially in order to catch the increased retention limit, they may 
discard additional dead sharks as a result. This is more likely under 
this alternative than under Alternative B2, given the larger difference 
in retention limits, but, as would also be the case for Alternative B2, 
it would likely only happen in the short term as fishermen modify their 
fishing practices to the adjusted retention limit. Under Alternative 
B3, the new sandbar shark quota could result in average annual lost 
revenue of $112,508 for those fishermen participating in the shark 
research fishery, but the income could be recouped by the increased 
retention limit outside the shark research fishery. Finally, the last 
alternative B4, considered increasing the LCS retention limit to a 
maximum of 108 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip and reducing the 
Atlantic shark research fishery quota to 36.2 mt dw (79,878 lb dw) for 
sandbar sharks. This alternative

[[Page 2652]]

would allow shark directed permit holders to retain three times as many 
LCS per trip as the current retention limit. This retention limit would 
result in potential trip revenues of $3,498 (3,672 lb of meat, 184 lb 
of fins) per vessel, assuming an ex-vessel price of $0.65 for meat and 
$6.05 for fins, which is an increase of $2,332 per vessel per trip 
compared to the status quo alternative. While a retention limit of 108 
LCS per trip would make each trip more profitable and potentially 
require fishermen to take fewer trips per year, this large increase in 
the retention limit could cause a lot more permit holders to become 
active, as described above. Thus, the profit of individual vessels 
could decrease because LCS quotas could be caught at a faster rate, and 
the fishing season could be shortened. Additionally, in order to 
increase the retention limit to 108 LCS per trip, the sandbar shark 
research quota would need to be reduced to an amount below what is 
currently being landed in the shark research fishery, thereby reducing 
the ability to carry out research for stock assessments and having 
adverse impacts on fishermen in the shark research fishery, who would 
lose quota, and thus revenue. As such, NMFS does not prefer this 
alternative.

Atlantic Regional and Sub-Regional Quotas

    Currently, NMFS manages several shark species and management group 
quotas on a regional basis with quota linkages in the Atlantic region. 
NMFS is proposing to implement sub-regional quotas for aggregated LCS, 
hammerhead sharks, blacknose sharks, and non-blacknose SCS management 
groups in the Atlantic region. Implementing sub-regional quotas would 
help alleviate some of the tensions between fishermen in certain states 
due to varying preferences for season opening dates and differences in 
regional shark availability. Additionally, sub-regional quotas could 
facilitate greater fishing accountability for these shark management 
groups within sub-regions, and also provide for extended fishing 
seasons in some sub-regions. In order to implement sub-regional quotas 
in the Atlantic region, NMFS is considering a number of measures, such 
as apportioning landings to sub-regions based on historical landings, 
adjusting linkages between certain management groups within sub-
regions, and establishing commercial quotas and TACs for non-blacknose 
SCS based on results of the recent stock assessment, SEDAR 34.
    NMFS considered several factors when calculating sub-regional 
quotas. It is important to consider the potential impact of early 
seasonal closures on historical landings by region over time. For 
example, the non-blacknose SCS and blacknose fisheries closed on 
November 2, 2010, September 30, 2013, and July 28, 2014, thereby 
reducing fishing opportunities for fishermen in the northern Atlantic 
area in those years, because sharks tend to be more available later in 
the year in the northern Atlantic area, whereas they tend to be 
available year-round in the southern Atlantic area. Conversely, in 
years where NMFS established opening dates later in the year (e.g., 
July 15 opening date for Aggregated LCS in 2010 through 2012), 
fishermen in the southern Atlantic area may have reduced fishing 
opportunities. During the Predraft stage and at the September 2014 HMS 
AP meeting, some constituents also expressed concerns about how 
regional differences in how shark carcasses are dressed may impact the 
magnitude of shark landings reported in the Atlantic Coastal 
Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP), and thus the amount of quota 
that may be allocated to each sub-region. ACCSP dealer reports indicate 
differences in how fishermen land sharks. Dealers in some states report 
dressed sharks with carcass gutted, head on, and tail on, while others 
report dressed sharks with carcass gutted, head off, and tails off 
(i.e., shark cores). However, observer data and port agents indicate 
that sharks are landed with their heads off regardless of region. 
Additionally, dealers cannot indicate ``heads on'' in electronic dealer 
reporting forms. Because observer observations suggest that sharks are 
landed with ``heads off,'' and since all types of dressed shark 
carcasses are included in landings that are counted towards the 
commercial quotas, NMFS has not adjusted landings estimates to account 
for differences in dressed weight for the sub-regional quota 
calculations. Finally, at the September 2014 HMS AP meeting, AP members 
expressed concern about using latitude and longitude lines associated 
with the federal fishing catch areas to define sub-regions in the 
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, instead of the state line between North 
Carolina and South Carolina in the Atlantic and the state line between 
Mississippi and Alabama in the Gulf of Mexico because fishermen in each 
state wanted to ensure that all their historical landings would 
ultimately contribute to their allotted sub-regional quota. However, 
after taking into consideration the HMS AP's comments, NMFS is 
considering using the latitude and longitude lines associated with 
fishing catch areas rather than state lines. Using the fishing catch 
area lines (i.e., latitude and longitude lines) would provide for more 
effective monitoring of quotas and more accurate reporting, as 
fishermen are currently required to report landings by catch area. NMFS 
has also determined that there would be minimal differences (0-1.9%) in 
the allocation of quota to each sub-region whether using state lines 
versus latitude and longitude lines.
    Due to the variability in the aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark 
fisheries between 2008 and 2013, and various impacts of seasonal 
closures and changes to regulations and fishery management groups that 
did not impact one region more than another, NMFS calculated the sub-
regional quotas based on total landings during this time period.
    Unlike the calculations for aggregated LCS and hammerhead sharks, 
the data used to calculate non-blacknose SCS and blacknose shark quotas 
would start after 2010 because SCS fisheries management changed in 2010 
under Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, in which NMFS 
created a separate blacknose shark quota and linked the quota to the 
non-blacknose SCS quota. NMFS used ACCSP landings data from 2011 and 
2012 to calculate SCS sub-regional quotas in Alternatives C2, C3 and 
C4. These years were used because they are years where the SCS 
fisheries were open year-round and sub-regional allocations would not 
be impacted by early closures; this approach was supported by some 
members of the HMS AP at the September 2014 meeting.
    The two preferred alternatives are Alternatives C4 and C6. 
Alternative C4 would apportion the base annual quotas for the Atlantic 
LCS and SCS management groups into northern and southern sub-regional 
quotas, with the boundary between the northern and southern Atlantic 
sub-regions drawn along 34[deg]00' N. Latitude, based on historical 
landings percentages. The preferred alternative would also maintain the 
non-blacknose SCS and blacknose quota linkages in the southern Atlantic 
sub-region, eliminate the linkage between blacknose and non-blacknose 
SCS in the northern Atlantic sub-region, and prohibit the harvest and 
landings of blacknose sharks in the northern Atlantic sub-region. The 
preferred alternatives do not consider removing linkages between all 
remaining species and management groups for several reasons. Removing 
linkages between these management groups would require an adjustment in

[[Page 2653]]

quotas in order to account for potential interactions and mortalities, 
and could result in an increase in regulatory discards. Additionally, 
there are specific reasons for maintaining linkages, as described in 
the FMP amendments that established them. For example, as described in 
Amendment 5a, the link between the aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark 
management groups was established to end overfishing and rebuild 
overfished stocks. To date, the closure of these management groups in 
the Atlantic region has been the result of harvesting the aggregated 
LCS quota. As described in Amendment 3 and 5a for the link between non-
blacknose SCS and blacknose sharks, the linking of quotas of species 
that are often caught together on the same set or trip can prevent 
incidental catch of sharks in a closed fishery as bycatch in other 
directed shark fisheries, possibly resulting in mortality and negating 
some of the conservation benefit of quota closures. The non-blacknose 
SCS quota preferred under this alternative would be split into northern 
and southern sub-regional quotas based on landings percentages, as 
described under Alternative C4 in the Draft EA. Sub-regional quotas for 
the preferred alternatives, based on percentages of landings 
apportioned to each sub-region, are outlined for Atlantic LCS and SCS 
in Figure 1. In addition, any overharvest of the overall regional base 
quota would be accounted for in the next fishing season and would 
affect the sub-region(s) that caused the overharvest. For example, if a 
northern sub-region quota was overharvested and that caused the overall 
regional base quota to be exceeded, then the amount overharvested by 
the northern sub-region would be deducted from the northern sub-
region's base quota and not the southern sub-region's base quota, the 
following fishing season. However, if a sub-region's quota is 
overharvested but the overall regional quota is not exceeded, then no 
overharvest would be deducted from either sub-region the following 
fishing season. In regards to underharvest of the overall regional base 
quota, if the species or all species in a management group is not 
declared to be overfished, to have overfishing occurring, or to have an 
unknown status, NMFS may increase the following year's base annual 
quota, including regional quota, by an equivalent amount of the 
underharvest up to 50 percent above the base annual quota. For example, 
if the northern sub-region's base quota is underharvested and the 
southern sub-region's base quota is fully harvested, in the following 
year the amount underharvested by the northern sub-region would be 
equally distributed between the sub-regions and added to the northern 
and southern sub-region's base quotas. If there is underharvest of the 
overall regional base quota and a species' status is unknown, 
overfished, or overfishing is occurring, NMFS would not carry over the 
underharvest to the following year's base annual quota.
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP20JA15.000

BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

    Preferred Alternative C4 would likely result in direct and indirect 
short- and long-term neutral ecological impacts across the Atlantic 
region. The preferred

[[Page 2654]]

sub-regional quotas would have no impact on the current level of 
fishing pressure, catch rates or distribution of fishing effort, but 
instead represent an administrative change in how quotas are monitored 
throughout the Atlantic region. Because sub-regional quotas are 
estimated from historical landings, and thus based on typical fishing 
activity within sub-regions, there would be no expected ecological 
differences in how fishermen from the various Atlantic states interact 
with LCS and SCS. Differences between sub-regions in whether linkages 
were maintained, however, would have varying ecological impacts. In the 
northern Atlantic sub-region, due to difficulties associated with 
managing a small quota of 0.8 mt dw, harvest of blacknose sharks would 
be prohibited. Prohibiting harvest of blacknose in the northern 
Atlantic sub-region, would reduce the likelihood of overharvesting 
blacknose sharks by quickly exceeding the quota, and eliminate the need 
to monitor a small quota. However, in the southern Atlantic sub-region, 
no changes would be made in the existing quota linkages between 
blacknose and non-blacknose SCS, so, neutral ecological impacts on SCS 
would be expected, since current conditions would be maintained.
    Across the entire Atlantic region, preferred alternative C4 would 
likely result in both direct short- and long-term moderate beneficial 
socioeconomic impacts. Removing quota linkages in the northern Atlantic 
region, in combination with apportioning the Atlantic regional quota at 
34[deg]00' N. Lat., would allow fishermen to maximize their fishing 
effort, and thereby maximize revenue, during periods when sharks 
migrate into local waters or when regional time/area closures are not 
in place. Removing quota linkages within the northern Atlantic sub-
region would have beneficial impacts, as increased revenues from 
increased landings would continue to accrue with each fishing year. 
Active fishermen in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be able to 
continue fishing for non-blacknose SCS without the fishing activities 
in the southern Atlantic sub-region, where the majority of blacknose 
sharks are landed, impacting the timing of the non-blacknose SCS 
fishery closure. Economic advantages associated with removing quota 
linkages, allowing the northern Atlantic sub-region to land a larger 
number of non-blacknose SCS, would outweigh the income lost from 
prohibiting landings of blacknose sharks ($1,750).
    The other preferred alternative, Alternative C6, would establish an 
Atlantic non-blacknose SCS TAC of 401.3 mt dw and maintain the 2014 
base annual commercial quota of 176.1 mt dw (388,222 lb dw). For this 
alternative, NMFS used the current Atlantic non-blacknose SCS 
commercial base annual quota of 176.1 mt dw to determine the new 
Atlantic TAC for this management group. The proposed TAC is calculated 
by summing the sources of mortality for Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, 
and finetooth sharks (recreational landings, commercial discards, which 
includes estimates of shrimp trawl discards, and research set-aside 
mortality) from the Atlantic region and adding the current commercial 
base annual quota (176.1 mt dw). The proposed Atlantic non-blacknose 
SCS TAC and commercial quota takes into account all sources of 
mortality for Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, and finetooth sharks and 
maintains the 2014 commercial base annual quota. In addition, no 
underharvest of the non-blacknose SCS quota in the Atlantic region 
would be carried forward to the next fishing season because the status 
of the bonnethead shark stock within the non-blacknose SCS management 
group is ``unknown''. Thus, because this non-blacknose SCS TAC and 
commercial quota takes into account all sources of mortality for both 
species, keeps fishing mortality capped at current levels, does not 
increase interactions with blacknose sharks, and accounts for the 
unknown status of Atlantic bonnethead sharks, NMFS believes that 
Alternative C6 would have direct and indirect short- and long-term 
neutral ecological impacts to the Atlantic non-blacknose SCS.
    With regards to socioeconomic impacts of preferred Alternative C6, 
because this alternative would maintain the non-blacknose SCS 
commercial quota, it is likely to have short-term neutral socioeconomic 
impacts. Recent non-blacknose SCS landings have been below 176.1, thus, 
this commercial quota could allow for increased landings and additional 
revenue if the entire quota is caught, which could have beneficial 
socioeconomic impacts. However, since the proposed commercial quota of 
176.1 mt dw would not be adjusted for underharvests due to the unknown 
status of bonnethead sharks, the fishermen participating in this 
fishery would be capped at a lower quota than is possible in the 
current non-blacknose SCS fisheries if there is underharvest, 
potentially leading to long-term minor adverse socioeconomic impacts. 
NMFS does not expect fishing effort to dramatically increase for non-
blacknose SCS in the southern region of the Atlantic, since this 
fishery would continue to be limited by blacknose shark landings and 
the linkage between these two groups. Preferred Alternative C6 would 
maintain fishing mortality at current levels and would not have 
unnecessary adverse socioeconomic impacts.
    Cumulatively, Alternatives C4 and C6 would have positive impacts on 
the current state of shark fisheries in the Atlantic Region. 
Implementing the northern and southern sub-regional quotas proposed in 
Alternative C4 would allow fishermen to maximize their fishing effort 
during periods when sharks migrate into local waters or when regional 
time/area closures are not in effect. Additionally, Alternative C4 
would provide increased flexibility in the application of shark 
management measures throughout the Atlantic region, without having any 
adverse economic or ecological consequences. The non-blacknose SCS 
commercial quota under preferred Alternative C6 would continue to allow 
fishermen to land these species at current levels, while maintaining 
the Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead stocks at sustainable levels. It 
more accurately reflects the status of Atlantic sharpnose and 
bonnethead sharks and considers the sources of mortality for all three 
non-blacknose SCS. Therefore, because of the neutral ecological impacts 
expected to shark species as well as non-target, incidental species and 
bycatch, and the moderately beneficial socioeconomic impacts expected 
by these combined measures, NMFS prefers these alternatives at this 
time.
    NMFS also analyzed five other alternatives related to Atlantic sub-
regional quotas that are not preferred at this time. Alternative C1, 
the No Action alternative, would not change the current commercial 
quota management in the Atlantic shark fisheries. Alternative C2 would 
apportion the Atlantic regional quotas for LCS and SCS along 33[deg]00' 
N. Latitude (approximately at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) into 
northern and southern sub-regional quotas, while maintaining all 
current quota linkages. Alternative C3 would apportion the Atlantic 
regional quotas for LCS and SCS along 34[deg]00' N. Latitude 
(approximately at Wilmington, North Carolina) into northern and 
southern sub-regional quotas, while maintaining all current quota 
linkages. Alternative C5 would establish a non-blacknose SCS TAC of 
177.3 mt dw and reduce the non-blacknose SCS commercial quota to 128 mt 
dw (282,238 lb dw), based on the results of the 2013 assessment for 
bonnethead sharks. Alternative C7 would establish a non-blacknose SCS

[[Page 2655]]

TAC of 489.3 mt dw and increase the commercial quota to 264.1 mt dw 
(582,333 lb dw), which is equal to the 2014 adjusted non-blacknose SCS 
quota. While some of these alternatives share some similar components 
with the preferred alternatives, NMFS does not prefer the remaining 
alternatives at this time for a variety of reasons. Alternative C1, the 
status quo alternative, does not address some of the issues facing the 
Atlantic shark fisheries and the current purpose of Amendment 6 to 
increase flexibility for shark fishermen. While neutral ecological 
impacts on Atlantic shark species and non-target species are 
anticipated from Alternatives C2 and C3, they do not take into 
consideration quota linkages between non-blacknose SCS and blacknose 
sharks. Under Alternative C5, the non-blacknose SCS TAC and commercial 
quota are limited by the results of the bonnethead shark stock 
assessment and do not take the results of the Atlantic sharpnose stock 
assessment or the status of finetooth sharks into account. Finally, 
Alternative C7 would cap the non-blacknose SCS commercial quota at a 
higher level than Alternative C6 and does not account for the 
uncertainties in the SEDAR 34 bonnethead stock assessment.

Gulf of Mexico Regional and Sub-Regional Quotas

    Similar to management measures considered in the Atlantic region, 
NMFS is also considering implementing sub-regional quotas for shark 
management groups in the Gulf of Mexico region. The two preferred 
alternatives are Alternative D4 and D6. Alternative D4 would apportion 
the base annual commercial quotas for the Gulf of Mexico LCS management 
groups into eastern and western sub-regional quotas along 89[deg]00' W 
Longitude, based on historical landings percentages (see Discussion in 
section 2.4 of Draft EA). It would also maintain the linkage between 
aggregated LCS and hammerhead sharks in the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-
region, eliminate the linkage between aggregated LCS and hammerhead 
sharks in the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region, and prohibit the 
harvest and landings of hammerhead sharks in the western Gulf of Mexico 
sub-region. NMFS would maintain linkages between the remaining 
management groups. Removing linkages between the additional management 
groups would require an adjustment in quotas in order to account for 
potential interactions and mortalities, and could result in an increase 
in regulatory discards. The western sub-regional quota for hammerhead 
sharks would be 0 mt dw. Sub-regional quotas for LCS, based on 
percentages of landings apportioned to each sub-region, are outlined 
for the Gulf of Mexico LCS in Figure 2. As described above in the 
Atlantic regional and sub-regional quotas section, any overharvest of 
the overall regional base quota would be deducted from the sub-
region(s) that caused the overharvest. However, if a sub-region's quota 
is overharvested but the overall regional quota is not exceeded, then 
no overharvest would be deducted from either sub-region the following 
fishing season. In addition, in cases where carry over is allowed, any 
underharvest of the overall regional base quota would be equally 
distributed to both sub-regions in the next fishing season, unless the 
status of the species or one of the species in the management group is 
unknown, overfished, or overfishing is occurring, in which case, NMFS 
would not carry over the underharvest to the following year's base 
annual quota.
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[[Page 2656]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP20JA15.001

BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

    Preferred Alternative D4 would likely result in both direct and 
indirect short- and long-term neutral ecological impacts on LCS within 
the western and eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-regions. The preferred sub-
regional LCS quotas would have no impact on the current level of 
fishing pressure, catch rates or distribution of fishing effort since 
current LCS quotas are being maintained, but instead represents an 
administrative change in how quotas are monitored throughout the Gulf 
of Mexico region. In the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region, no changes 
would be made in the existing quota linkages between aggregated LCS and 
hammerhead sharks, which would likely result in neutral ecological 
impacts, since current conditions would be maintained. In contrast, in 
the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region, quota linkages would be removed 
between aggregated LCS and hammerhead sharks. While quota linkages 
mitigate incidental mortality of species caught together, only 0.6 
percent of hammerhead shark landings in the Gulf of Mexico region can 
be attributed to fishing activities in the western Gulf of Mexico sub-
region. In the western Gulf of Mexico region, due to the difficulties 
associated with managing a small quota of 0.1 mt dw, harvest of 
hammerhead sharks would be prohibited. Prohibiting harvest of 
hammerhead sharks in the western Gulf of Mexico would reduce the 
likelihood of overharvesting the hammerhead shark quota by quickly 
exceeding a small quota, and eliminate the need to monitor a small 
quota. Because landings of hammerhead in the western Gulf of Mexico are 
minimal, Alternative D4 would still likely result in neutral ecological 
impacts on LCS within the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region.
    Alternative D4 would likely result in both direct and indirect 
short- and long-term neutral socioeconomic impacts across the entire 
Gulf of Mexico region, as increased revenues associated with increased 
flexibility with season opening dates as a result of implementing sub-
regional quotas would be countered by potential losses from prohibiting 
landings of hammerhead sharks in the western Gulf of Mexico. Removing 
quota linkages within the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region would have 
beneficial socioeconomic impacts, as fishermen active in this region 
would be able to continue fishing for aggregated LCS without fishing 
activities in the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region determining the 
timing of the aggregated LCS fishery closure. Economic advantages 
associated with removing quota linkages, allowing the western Gulf of 
Mexico sub-region to continue to land a larger number of aggregated 
LCS, would offset any potential lost income from prohibiting landings 
of hammerhead shark. In the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region, no 
socioeconomic impacts are expected by maintaining the quota linkages 
already in place for LCS.
    The other preferred alternative, Alternative D6, would establish a 
Gulf of Mexico non-blacknose SCS TAC of 954.7 mt dw and increase the 
commercial quota in the Gulf of Mexico region to the 2014 adjusted 
annual quota of 68.3 mt dw (150,476 lb dw). This TAC is calculated by 
summing the sources of mortality for Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, 
and finetooth sharks in the Gulf of Mexico region

[[Page 2657]]

(recreational landings, commercial discards, and research set-aside 
mortality) and adding the 2014 adjusted annual quota of 68.3 mt dw. 
This non-blacknose SCS TAC and commercial quota takes into account all 
sources of mortality for Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, and finetooth 
sharks and maintains current quota levels, due to uncertainty with the 
SEDAR 34 stock assessment and comments from the stock assessment peer 
reviewers, who expressed concern that bonnethead sharks were not split 
into two different stocks and analyzed in a manner that is similar to 
what was done with Atlantic sharpnose sharks. In addition, there is 
uncertainty about the data and life history information for finetooth 
sharks, so NMFS would prefer to take a relatively conservative approach 
with finetooth sharks and not increase landings substantially until a 
new stock assessment is complete. The commercial quota under 
Alternative D6 reflects the current fishing effort and pressure in the 
Gulf of Mexico for non-blacknose SCS. Under Alternative D6, the 
commercial quota and TAC would not result in any changes in current 
fishing effort or catch rates of non-blacknose SCS in the Gulf of 
Mexico. With anticipated fishing activities remaining the same, no 
increases in potential bycatch or increased interactions with non-
target, incidentally caught species are expected. Thus, the preferred 
Alternative D6, would likely result in short- and long-term minor 
beneficial ecological impacts on non-blacknose SCS in the Gulf of 
Mexico region because the alternative maintains the quota at the 
present level, which is below the quota projected in the stock 
assessment, and interactions with blacknose sharks would remain the 
same.
    Alternative D6 would result in both direct and indirect short- and 
long-term neutral to minor adverse socioeconomic impacts because it 
would increase the commercial quota above the current base non-
blacknose SCS quota, providing fishermen with additional opportunities 
to profit from landing non-blacknose SCS in the Gulf of Mexico region, 
while keeping interactions with blacknose sharks at current levels, as 
quota linkages would be maintained. Given current financial 
difficulties faced by fishermen, associated with declining ex-vessel 
prices and restrictions on the sale of shark fins, the beneficial 
socioeconomic impacts of increasing the annual quota by 12.8 mt dw from 
the current base quota would likely be minimal. In addition, the 
proposed commercial quota of 68.3 mt dw could have minor adverse 
impacts since 2013 non-blacknose SCS landings exceeded this commercial 
quota. However, due to the uncertainties in SEDAR 34 and given the 
unknown stock status of bonnethead sharks in the Gulf of Mexico region 
and uncertainty about the data and life history information for 
finetooth sharks, NMFS believes that the proposed commercial quota 
would continue to provide fishermen with sufficient opportunity to 
harvest non-blacknose SCS, while maintaining the species at sustainable 
levels.
    Cumulatively, Alternatives D4 and D6 would have positive impacts on 
the current state of shark fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico region. 
Implementing the eastern and western sub-regional quotas in Alternative 
D4 would allow fishermen to maximize their fishing effort during 
periods when sharks migrate into local waters or periods when sales of 
shark meat are increased, as well as providing increased revenue 
associated with potentially landing a larger portion of their sub-
regional quota. Additionally, Alternative D4 would provide increased 
flexibility in the application of shark management measures throughout 
the Gulf of Mexico region, without having any adverse economic or 
ecological consequences. Alternative D6 would allow for non-blacknose 
SCS landings to be capped at the 2014 adjusted quota, and be 
conservative based on uncertainties associated with the SEDAR 34 stock 
assessment for bonnethead sharks and the SEDAR 13 stock assessment for 
finetooth sharks. Because of the neutral ecological impacts expected to 
shark species as well as non-target, incidental species and bycatch, 
and the moderately beneficial economic impact expected by these 
combined measures, NMFS prefers these alternatives at this time.
    NMFS also analyzed five other alternatives related to Gulf of 
Mexico sub-regional quotas that are not preferred at this time. 
Alternative D1, the No Action alternative, would not change the current 
quota management of the shark fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. 
Alternative D2 would apportion the Gulf of Mexico regional quotas for 
LCS along 89[deg]00' W Longitude into eastern and western sub-regional 
quotas, while maintaining current linkages. Alternative D3 would 
apportion the Gulf of Mexico regional quotas for LCS along 88[deg]00' W 
Longitude into eastern and western sub-regional quotas, while 
maintaining current linkages. Alternative D5 would establish a non-
blacknose SCS TAC of 931.9 mt dw, based on current levels of catch, and 
maintain the current commercial base annual non-blacknose SCS quota of 
45.5 mt dw (100,317 lb dw). Alternative D7 would establish a non-
blacknose SCS TAC of 1,064.9 mt dw and increase the commercial quota to 
twice the 2013 landings, which is 178.5 mt dw (393,566 lb dw). While 
some of these alternatives share some similar components with the 
preferred alternatives, NMFS does not prefer the remaining alternatives 
at this time for a variety of reasons. Alternative D1, the status quo 
alternative, does not address some of the issues facing the Atlantic 
shark fisheries and the current purpose of Amendment 6 is to increase 
flexibility for shark fishermen. Alternative D2 does not take into 
consideration quota linkages between aggregated LCS and hammerhead 
sharks. While Alternative D3 would have neutral ecological impacts on 
Gulf of Mexico shark species and non-target species and have beneficial 
economic impacts, the alternative is not preferred because the split in 
Alternatives D2 and D4 may reflect the distribution of fishing 
constituents better. The quota under Alternative D5 would not address 
the financial difficulties faced by shark fishermen throughout the Gulf 
of Mexico or improve the current state of the Gulf of Mexico shark 
fisheries. Finally, the increased quota under Alternative D7 could 
likely negatively impact blacknose sharks, which have an unknown 
status, and would have an unknown impact on finetooth sharks.

Upgrading Restrictions

    NMFS is considering removing the upgrading restrictions for shark 
LAP holders in order to reduce restrictions for fishermen to buy and 
sell shark permits. The current preferred alternative, Alternative E2, 
would remove current upgrading restrictions for shark directed LAP 
holders. Eliminating these restrictions would have short- and long-term 
minor beneficial socioeconomic impacts, since it would allow fishermen 
to buy, sell, or transfer shark directed permits without worrying about 
the increase in horsepower of more than 20 percent or an increase of 
more than 10 percent in length overall, gross registered tonnage, or 
net tonnage from the vessel baseline specifications. In addition, the 
upgrade restriction for shark permit holders was implemented in part to 
match the upgrading restrictions for the Northeast multispecies 
permits. NMFS is currently considering removing the upgrading 
restrictions for the Northeast multispecies permits, and if those are 
removed, then removing the upgrading restrictions for shark directed 
LAP holders could aid in maintaining consistency for fishermen who hold

[[Page 2658]]

multiple permits. Removing the upgrading restrictions would not affect 
the number of sharks being landed by vessels, as the amount of sharks 
landed is determined by the retention limit and quotas, not the size of 
the vessel. Thus, this preferred alternative would have short- and 
long-term neutral ecological impacts since removing restrictions on 
shark directed LAPs related to vessel specifications would have no 
impacts on the biological status of Atlantic sharks. NMFS prefers this 
alternative at this time because it would provide more flexibility for 
current shark LAP holders by eliminating the upgrading restrictions for 
shark directed permit holders, without having any negative ecological 
effects, and potentially could maintain consistency with the Northeast 
multispecies fisheries permit requirements, if those requirements also 
are removed.
    NMFS also analyzed the No Action alternative that would have 
maintained the current upgrading restrictions related to horsepower, 
length overall, gross registered tonnage and net tonnage. This 
alternative would have neutral ecological and socioeconomic impacts, 
since it would maintain the status quo. However, the No Action 
alternative limits fishermen's ability to update vessels or engines to 
more fuel-efficient ones and would provide less flexibility for 
fishermen when buying, selling, or transferring LAPs than the preferred 
alternative.

Public Hearings

    Comments on this proposed rule may be submitted via http://www.regulations.gov, mail, or fax and comments may also be submitted at 
a public hearing. NMFS solicits comments on this proposed rule by April 
3, 2015. During the comment period, NMFS will hold 4 public hearings 
and 1 conference call for this proposed rule. The hearing locations 
will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for 
sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed 
to LeAnn Hogan or Gu[yacute] DuBeck at 301-427-8503, at least 7 days 
prior to the meeting. NMFS has also asked to present information on the 
proposed rule and draft Amendment 6 to the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, 
South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and New England Fishery Management 
Councils and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions 
at their meetings during the public comment period. Please see their 
meeting notices for dates, times, and locations.

              Table 1--Dates, Times, and Locations of Upcoming Public Hearings and Conference Call
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Location contact
               Venue                        Date/time           Meeting locations            information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Hearing.....................  February 17, 2015, 5    St. Petersburg, FL....  National Marine Fisheries
                                      p.m.-8 p.m.                                     Service, Southeast
                                                                                      Regional Office, 263 13th
                                                                                      Avenue South, Saint
                                                                                      Petersburg, FL 33701.
Public Hearing.....................  February 18, 2015, 5    Melbourne, FL.........  Melbourne Public Library,
                                      p.m.-8 p.m.                                     540 E. Fee Ave, Melbourne,
                                                                                      FL 32901.
Public Hearing.....................  February 23, 2015, 5    Belle Chasse, LA......  Belle Chasse Branch
                                      p.m.-8 p.m.                                     Library, 8442 Louisiana
                                                                                      23, Belle Chasse, LA
                                                                                      70037.
Public Hearing.....................  February 26, 2015, 5    Manteo, NC............  Commissioners Meeting Room,
                                      p.m.-8 p.m.                                     Dare County Administration
                                                                                      Building, 954 Marshall C.
                                                                                      Collins Dr., Manteo, NC
                                                                                      27954.
Conference call....................  March 25, 2015, 2 p.m.- ......................  To participate in
                                      4 p.m.                                          conference call, call:
                                                                                      (877) 918-1344 Passcode:
                                                                                      7371832.
                                                                                     To participate in webinar,
                                                                                      RSVP at: https://noaaevents2.webex.com/noaaevents2/onstage/g.php?d=998580989&t=a. A
                                                                                      confirmation email with
                                                                                      webinar log-in information
                                                                                      will be sent after RSVP is
                                                                                      registered.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the public 
hearings to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each 
public hearing, a representative of NMFS will explain the ground rules 
(e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the hearing room; attendees will be 
called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to 
speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and 
attendees should not interrupt one another). At the beginning of the 
conference call, the moderator will explain how the conference call 
will be conducted and how and when attendees can provide comments. The 
NMFS representative will attempt to structure the meeting so that all 
attending members of the public will be able to comment, if they so 
choose, regardless of the controversial nature of the subject(s). 
Attendees are expected to respect the ground rules, and, if they do 
not, they may be asked to leave the hearing or may not be allowed to 
speak during the conference call.

Classification

    Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS Assistant 
Administrator has determined that the proposed rule is consistent with 
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments, other provisions of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further 
consideration after public comment.
    NMFS prepared a draft EA for Draft Amendment 6 that discusses the 
impact on the environment that would occur as a result of this proposed 
action. In this proposed action, NMFS is considering both adjusting 
current management measures affecting the Atlantic shark fisheries, as 
well as creating new measures that provide managers and fishermen with 
operational and implementation flexibility. A copy of the EA is 
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) was prepared, as 
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The 
IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed rule would have on 
small entities if adopted. A description of the action, why it is being 
considered, and the legal basis for this action are contained at the 
beginning of this section in the preamble and in the SUMMARY section of 
the preamble. A summary of the analysis follows. A copy of this 
analysis is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

[[Page 2659]]

    Section 603(b)(1) requires Agencies to describe the reasons why the 
action is being considered. This proposed action is being considered to 
implement management measures for the Atlantic shark fisheries that 
will achieve the objectives of increasing management flexibility to 
adapt to the changing needs of the Atlantic shark fisheries, and 
achieve optimum yield while rebuilding overfished shark stocks and 
ending overfishing. In September 2010, NMFS published an ANPR to 
request public comment on potential adjustments to the regulations 
governing the Atlantic shark fisheries to address specific issues 
currently affecting management of the shark fisheries and to identify 
specific goals for management of these fisheries in the future. Based 
on the comments received on the ANPR, in September 2011, NMFS published 
a NOI to prepare an FMP Amendment that would consider catch shares for 
the Atlantic shark fisheries. Since the publication of the NOI, there 
have been a few major changes in the Federal management of the Atlantic 
shark fisheries, including the publication of Amendment 5a. In addition 
to the changes in Federal regulations, there have also been changes in 
state shark management, such as the shark fin possession prohibitions. 
In considering comments received on the ANPR and NOI, in April 2014, 
NMFS released a Predraft for Amendment 6 that included management 
options for changes to regional quota and permit structures. On May, 27 
2014, NMFS published another NOI announcing its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) instead of an Environmental Impact 
Statement and that the agency is moving away from the catch share 
concept for this particular Amendment. Since the publication of these 
documents, and reviewing the comments received, NMFS has continued to 
consider various ways to move forward to address recurring issues 
through regulations that provide managers and fishermen with increased 
management and implementation flexibility, while maintaining 
conservation measures for the commercial shark fisheries.
    Section 603(b)(2) requires Agencies to describe the objectives of 
the proposed rule. The management goals and objectives of this action 
are to implement management measures for the Atlantic shark fisheries 
that will achieve the objectives of increasing management flexibility 
to adapt to the changing needs of the Atlantic shark fisheries, and 
achieve optimum yield while rebuilding overfished shark stocks and 
ending overfishing. To achieve this purpose and need, and to comply 
with existing statutes such as the Magnuson-Stevens Act and its 
objectives, NMFS has identified the following objectives with regard to 
this proposed action:
     Increasing the efficiency in the LCS and SCS fisheries;
     Maintaining or increasing equity across all shark 
fishermen and regions;
     Promoting economic viability for the shark fishery 
participants;
     Obtaining optimum yield from the LCS and SCS fisheries;
     Maintaining or increasing management flexibility for the 
shark fisheries;
     Decreasing dead discards of sharks;
     Continuing to rebuild overfished shark stocks; and
     Preventing overfishing of shark stocks.
    Section 603(b)(3) requires Agencies to provide an estimate of the 
number of small entities to which the rule would apply. On June 12, 
2014, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an interim final 
rule revising the small business size standards for several industries 
effective July 14, 2014 (79 FR 33467). The rule increased the size 
standard from $19.0 to $20.5 million for finfish fishing, from $5 to 
$5.5 million for shellfish fishing, and from $7.0 million to $7.5 
million for other marine fishing, for-hire businesses, and marinas. Id. 
at 33656, 33660, 33666.
    NMFS has reviewed the analyses prepared for this action in light of 
the new size standards. Under the former, lower size standards, all 
entities subject to this action were considered small entities, thus 
they all would continue to be considered small under the new standards. 
NMFS does not think that the new size standards affect analyses 
prepared for this action and solicits public comment on the analyses in 
light of the new size standards. Under these standards, NMFS considers 
all Atlantic HMS permit holders subject to this rulemaking to be small 
entities.
    As discussed in Section 3.6.2 of the Draft EA for Amendment 6, the 
proposed rule would apply to the 473 commercial shark permit holders in 
the Atlantic shark fishery, based on an analysis of permit holders as 
of September 2014. Of these permit holders, 214 have directed shark 
permits and 259 hold incidental shark permits. Not all permit holders 
are active in the fishery in any given year. Active directed permit 
holders are defined as those with valid permits that landed one shark 
based on HMS electronic dealer reports. Based on 2013 HMS electronic 
dealer data, 68 shark directed permit holders were active in the 
Atlantic and 22 shark directed permit holders were active in the Gulf 
of Mexico. NMFS has determined that the proposed rule would not likely 
affect any small governmental jurisdictions. More information regarding 
the description of the fisheries affected and the categories and number 
of permit holders can be found in Chapter 3 of the Draft EA for 
Amendment 6.
    Section 603(b)(4) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act requires 
Agencies to describe any new reporting, recordkeeping, and other 
compliance requirements. The action does not contain any new collection 
of information, reporting, recordkeeping, or other compliance 
requirements.
    Under section 603(b)(5) of the RFA, agencies must identify, to the 
extent practicable, relevant Federal rules which duplicate, overlap, or 
conflict with the proposed rule. Fishermen, dealers, and managers in 
these fisheries must comply with a number of international agreements, 
domestic laws, and other FMPs. These include the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), the High Seas Fishing 
Compliance Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act, the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act. This proposed rule 
has been determined not to duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any 
Federal rules.
    On July 3, 2014, NMFS published a final rule that, among other 
things, listed as threatened under the ESA a Central and Southwest 
Atlantic Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of scalloped hammerhead 
sharks (79 FR 38214). This DPS occurs within the boundary of Atlantic 
HMS commercial and recreational fisheries, which are managed by NMFS. 
On August 27, 2014, NMFS published a final rule that, among other 
things, listed as threatened, or determined that threatened status was 
still warranted for, seven species of corals that occur within the 
boundary of Atlantic HMS fisheries.
    On October 30, 2014, based on the new listings, NMFS requested 
reinitiation of ESA section 7 consultation on the continued operation 
and use of HMS gear types (bandit gear, bottom longline, buoy gear, 
handline, and rod and reel) and associated fisheries management actions 
in the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP and its amendments. NMFS also 
submitted a biological evaluation to support this request for 
reinitiation of consultation and to provide supplemental information 
for an

[[Page 2660]]

ongoing consultation for the pelagic longline fishery. Pending 
completion of consultation, NMFS has determined that the ongoing 
operation of the fisheries is consistent with existing biological 
opinions and is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence or 
result in an irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources 
which would foreclose formulation or implementation of any reasonable 
and prudent alternative measures on the threatened Central and 
Southwest DPS of scalloped hammerhead sharks or threatened coral 
species.
    One of the requirements of an IRFA is to describe any alternatives 
to the proposed rule which accomplish the stated objectives and which 
minimize any significant economic impacts. These impacts are discussed 
below. Additionally, the RFA (5 U.S.C. 603(c)(1)-(4)) lists four 
general categories of ``significant'' alternatives that would assist an 
agency in the development of significant alternatives. These categories 
of alternatives are: (1) Establishment of differing compliance or 
reporting requirements or timetables that take into account the 
resources available to small entities; (2) clarification, 
consolidation, or simplification of compliance and reporting 
requirements under the rule for such small entities; (3) use of 
performance rather than design standards; and (4) exemptions from 
coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for small entities.
    In order to meet the objectives of this proposed rule, consistent 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, ATCA, and the ESA, NMFS cannot establish 
differing compliance requirements for small entities or exempt small 
entities from compliance requirements. Thus, there are no alternatives 
discussed that fall under the first and fourth categories described 
above. NMFS does not know of any performance or design standards that 
would satisfy the objectives of this rulemaking while, concurrently, 
complying with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. As described below, NMFS 
analyzed several different alternatives in this proposed rulemaking and 
provides rationales for identifying the preferred alternatives to 
achieve the desired objectives.
    The alternatives considered and analyzed are described below. The 
IRFA assumes that each vessel will have similar catch and gross 
revenues to show the relative impact of the proposed action on vessels. 
In this rulemaking, we considered 6 different categories of management 
measures to address current issues facing LCS and SCS shark fisheries. 
These categories are permit stacking (A1-A3), commercial retention 
limits (B1-B4), Atlantic sub-regional quotas (C1-C7), Gulf of Mexico 
sub-regional quotas (D1-D7), and upgrading restrictions (E1 and E2).
Permit Stacking
    Under Alternative A1, the preferred alternative, NMFS would not 
implement permit stacking for the shark directed limited access permit 
holders. NMFS would continue to allow only one directed limited access 
permit per vessel and thus one retention limit. The current retention 
limit of 36 LCS per trip would result in potential trip revenues of 
$1,166 (1,224 lb of meat, 61 lb of fins) per vessel, assuming an ex-
vessel price of $0.65 for meat and $6.05 for fins. It is likely that 
this alternative could possibly have minor adverse socioeconomic 
impacts in the long term, because if fishermen are unable to retain an 
increased number of LCS per trip by stacking permits, the profitability 
of each trip could decline over time, due to declining prices for shark 
products and increasing prices for gas, bait, and other associated 
costs. The No Action alternative could also have neutral indirect 
impacts to those supporting the commercial shark fisheries, since the 
retention limits, and thus current fishing efforts, would not change 
under this alternative.
    Under Alternative A2, NMFS would allow fishermen to concurrently 
use a maximum of two shark directed permits on one vessel, which would 
result in aggregated, and thus higher, trip limits. Under the current 
LCS retention limit of 36 LCS, this would allow a vessel with two 
stacked permits to have a LCS retention limit of 72 LCS per trip. This 
new retention limit would result in potential trip revenues of $2,332 
(2,448 lb of meat, 124 lb of fins) per vessel, assuming an ex-vessel 
price of $0.65 for meat and $6.05 for fins, which is an increase of 
$1,166 per trip compared to the status quo alternative. For fishermen 
that currently have two directed limited access permits, this 
alternative would have short-term minor beneficial socioeconomic 
impacts because these fishermen would be able to stack their permits 
and avail themselves of the retention limit of 72 LCS per trip. The 
higher retention limit is likely to make each trip more profitable for 
fishermen, as well as more efficient, if they decide to take fewer 
trips and in turn save money on gas, bait, and other associated costs. 
This alternative could also have indirect, minor beneficial 
socioeconomic impacts to entities supporting the commercial shark 
fisheries, such as fishing tackle manufacturers and suppliers, bait 
suppliers, fuel providers, and shark dealers, because the increased 
efficiency and profitability in the fisheries could also lead to 
increases in potential employment, personal income, and sales for the 
entities supporting the fisheries. However, the current number of 
directed permits in the Atlantic region is 136, and 130 of those 
permits have different owners. In the Gulf of Mexico, of the 83 
directed shark permits, 73 have different owners. Therefore, it is 
unlikely that many of the current directed shark permit holders would 
be able to benefit from this alternative in the short-term. In 
addition, the cost of one directed shark permit can run anywhere 
between $2,000 and $5,000, which could be difficult for many shark 
fishermen to afford. For fishermen that do not currently have more than 
one directed shark permit, this alternative could have long-term minor 
beneficial impacts if these fishermen are able to acquire an additional 
permit and offset the cost of the additional permit by taking advantage 
of the potential economic benefits of the higher retention limits. 
Nevertheless, this alternative is unlikely to have beneficial 
socioeconomic impacts for the shark fishery as a whole because only 
shark fishermen that could afford to buy multiple shark permits would 
benefit from the higher retention limit and higher revenues whereas 
those shark fishermen that cannot afford to buy a second directed shark 
permit would be at a disadvantage, unable to economically benefit from 
the higher retention limits. Given the current make-up of the shark 
fishery, which primarily consists of small business fishermen with only 
one permit, and the cost of the additional permit, this could 
potentially lead to inequity and unfairness among the directed shark 
permit holders if those fishermen that currently have multiple directed 
permits or that could afford to buy an additional directed permit gain 
an economic advantage.
    Under Alternative A3, NMFS would allow fishermen to concurrently 
use a maximum of three shark directed permits on one vessel, which 
would result in aggregated, and thus higher, trip limits. Under the 
current LCS retention limit of 36 LCS, this would mean that a vessel 
with three stacked permits would have a LCS retention limit of 108 LCS 
per trip. This alternative would allow shark directed permit holders to 
retain three times as many LCS per trip then the current retention 
limit. This new retention limit would result in potential trip revenues 
of $3,498 (3,672 lb of meat, 184 lb of

[[Page 2661]]

fins) per vessel, assuming an ex-vessel price of $0.65 for meat and 
$6.05 for fins, which is an increase of $2,332 per trip compared to the 
status quo alternative. The higher retention limit is likely to make 
each trip more profitable for fishermen, as well as more efficient, if 
they decide to take fewer trips and in turn save money on gas, bait, 
and other associated costs. Similar to Alternative A2, this alternative 
would have short-term minor beneficial socioeconomic impacts for 
fishermen that currently have three shark directed limited access 
permits, because these fishermen would be able to stack their permits 
and avail themselves of the retention limit of 108 LCS per trip. As 
mentioned above, the current number of shark directed permit holders is 
219, with 93 percent having different owners. Therefore, it is unlikely 
that many of the current directed shark permit holders currently hold 
three directed shark permits and would be able to benefit from this 
alternative in the short-term. For fishermen who do not currently have 
more than one directed shark permit, this alternative could have larger 
long-term beneficial socioeconomic impacts than Alternative 2, if these 
fishermen are able to acquire two additional permits and offset the 
cost of the additional permits by taking advantage of the potential 
economic benefits of retaining up to 108 LCS per trip. However, for the 
same reasons discussed for Alternative A2, this alternative is unlikely 
to have socioeconomic benefits for those shark fishermen that cannot 
afford to buy two additional directed permits, and thus would be unable 
to economically benefit from a higher retention limit. Thus, given the 
current make-up of the shark fishery, Alternative A3 could potentially 
lead to more inequity and unfairness among the directed shark permit 
holders than Alternative A2, especially if those fishermen that 
currently have multiple directed permits or that could afford to buy 
additional directed permits gain an economic advantage under this 
alternative.
Commercial Retention Limits
    Alternative B1 would not change the current commercial LCS 
retention limit for shark directed permit holders. The retention limit 
would remain at 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip for directed 
permit holders. This retention limit would result in potential trip 
revenues of $1,166 (1,224 lb of meat, 61 lb of fins) per vessel 
assuming an ex-vessel price of $0.65 for meat and $6.05 for fins. It is 
likely that this alternative would have short-term neutral 
socioeconomic impacts, since the retention limits would not change 
under this alternative. However, not adjusting the retention limit 
would have long-term minor adverse socioeconomic impacts, due to the 
expected continuing decline in prices for shark products and increase 
in gas, bait, and other associated costs, which would lead to declining 
profitability of individual trips. In recent years, there have been 
changes in federal and state regulations, including the implementation 
of Amendment 5a and state bans on the possession, sale, and trade of 
shark fins, which have impacted shark fishermen. In addition to federal 
and state regulations, there have also been many international efforts 
to prohibit shark finning at sea, as well as campaigns targeted at the 
shark fin soup markets. All of these efforts have impacted the market 
and demand for shark fins. In addition, NMFS has seen a steady decline 
in ex-vessel prices for shark fins in all regions since 2010 (NMFS 
2013).
    Alternative B2, the preferred alternative, would increase the LCS 
retention limit to a maximum of 55 LCS other than sandbar sharks per 
trip for shark directed permit holders and reduce the sandbar shark 
research fishery quota to 75.7 mt dw (166,826 lb dw). This alternative 
would allow shark directed permit holders to retain 19 more LCS per 
trip than the current retention limit. This new retention limit would 
result in potential trip revenues of $1,781 (1,870 lb of meat, 94 lb of 
fins), assuming an ex-vessel price of $0.65 for meat and $6.05 for 
fins. This alternative would have short- and long-term direct minor 
beneficial socioeconomic impacts, since shark directed permit holders 
could land more sharks per trip when compared to the current retention 
limit of 36 LCS per trip. The higher retention limit is likely to make 
each trip more profitable for fishermen, as well as more efficient, if 
they decide to take fewer trips, and in turn save money on fuel, bait, 
and other associated costs. Regarding the shark research fishery, this 
alternative could cause an average annual loss of $85,944, since the 
sandbar research fishery quota would be reduced by 90,230 lb dw. This 
potential lost income for the research fishery could be positive for 
commercial fishermen, since the increased retention limit could make 
trips more profitable. NMFS estimates that this reduction in the 
sandbar research fishery quota would have neutral socioeconomic 
impacts, based on current limited resources available to fund observed 
trips in the fishery and the current harvest level of the sandbar 
research fishery quota. In 2013, the vessels participating in the 
Atlantic shark research fishery only landed 37.0 mt dw (81,628 lb dw), 
or 32 percent, of the available sandbar shark quota. Under the new 
sandbar shark quota with the Atlantic shark research fishery, the 2013 
landings would result in 49 percent of the new sandbar shark quota 
being landed. If available resources increase in the future for more 
observed trips in the fishery, then this alternative could have minor 
adverse socioeconomic impacts if the full quota is caught and the 
fishery has to close earlier in the year.
    Alternative B3 would increase the LCS retention limit to a maximum 
of 72 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip for shark directed permit 
holders and reduce the sandbar shark research fishery quota to 63.0 mt 
dw (138,937 lb dw). This alternative would double the current retention 
limit. This new retention limit would result in potential trip revenues 
of $2,332 (2,448 lb of meat, 124 lb of fins), assuming an ex-vessel 
price of $0.65 for meat and $6.05 for fins. This alternative would have 
short- and long-term minor beneficial socioeconomic impacts, since 
shark directed permit holders could land twice as many LCS per trip. 
Shark directed trips would become more profitable, but more permit 
holders could become active in order to avail themselves of this higher 
trip limit. Before Amendment 2, there were 143 active directed shark 
permit holders, and the number of active directed shark permit holders 
has declined to 90, due to the current retention limit and declines in 
shark product prices. The increased retention limit could cause some 
fishermen to become active again, potentially causing a derby fishery 
and bringing the price of shark products even lower. Thus, NMFS needs 
to balance providing the flexibility of increasing the efficiency of 
trips and the associated socioeconomic benefits with the negative 
socioeconomic impacts of derby fishing and lower profits. This 
alternative could have neutral impacts for fishermen participating in 
the Atlantic shark research fishery, since the 2013 landings (37.0 mt 
dw; 81,628 lb dw) would result in 59 percent of the new sandbar shark 
quota being landed. Under Alternative B3, the new sandbar shark quota 
could result in average annual loss revenue of $112,508 for those 
fishermen participating in the shark research fishery, but the income 
could be recouped by the increased retention limit outside the shark 
research fishery. If available resources increase in the future for 
more observed trips in the fishery, then this alternative

[[Page 2662]]

still would have neutral socioeconomic impacts, since the observed 
trips would be distributed throughout the year to ensure the research 
fishery remains open and obtains biological and catch data all year 
round.
    Alternative B4 would increase the LCS retention limit to a maximum 
of 108 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip for shark directed permit 
holders and reduce the sandbar shark research fishery quota to 36.2 mt 
dw (79,878 lb dw). This alternative would allow shark directed permit 
holders to retain three times as many LCS per trip as the current 
retention limit. This new retention limit would result in potential 
trip revenues of $3,498 (3,672 lb of meat, 184 lb of fins), assuming an 
ex-vessel price of $0.65 for meat and $6.05 for fins. This alternative 
could have short- and long-term moderate beneficial socioeconomic 
impacts, since shark directed permit holders could land three times the 
current LCS retention limit. This increased retention limit could 
result in 3,672 lb dw of LCS per trip, which could bring the fishery 
almost back to historical levels of 4,000 lb dw LCS per trip. While a 
retention limit of 108 LCS per trip would make each trip more 
profitable and potentially require fishermen to take fewer trips per 
year, this large increase in the retention limit could cause a lot more 
permit holders to become active. Thus, the profit of individual vessels 
could decrease, because LCS quotas could be caught at a faster rate, 
and the fishing season could be shortened. Additionally, in order to 
increase the retention limit to 108 LCS per trip, the sandbar shark 
research quota would need to be reduced to an amount below what is 
currently being landed in the shark research fishery, which would have 
adverse impacts on fishermen in the shark research fishery, who would 
lose quota, and thus revenue.
Atlantic Regional and Sub-Regional Quotas
    Alternative C1, the No Action alternative, would not change the 
current management of the Atlantic shark fisheries. This alternative 
would likely result in short-term, direct neutral socioeconomic impacts 
as fisheries would continue to operate under current conditions, with 
shark fishermen continuing to fish at current rates. Based on the 2013 
ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for the entire fleet from 
aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark meat in the Atlantic region would 
be $339,998, while the shark fins would be $76,299. Thus, total average 
annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark landings 
in the Atlantic region would be $416,297 ($339,998 + $76,299), which is 
9 percent of the entire revenue for the shark fishery. For the non-
blacknose SCS and blacknose shark landings, the annual gross revenues 
for the entire fleet from the meat would be $304,747, while the shark 
fins would be $75,537. The total average annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS and blacknose shark landings in the Atlantic region would 
be $380,284 ($304,747 + $75,537), which is 8 percent of the entire 
revenue for the shark fishery. However, this alternative would likely 
result in long-term minor adverse socioeconomic impacts. Negative 
impacts would be partly due to the continued negative effects of 
federal and state regulations related to shark finning and sale of 
shark fins, which have resulted in declining ex-vessel prices of fins 
since 2010, as well as continued changes in shark fishery management 
measures. Additionally, under the current regulations, fishermen 
operating in the south of the Atlantic region drastically impact the 
availability of quota remaining for fishermen operating in the north of 
the Atlantic region. If fishermen in the south fish early in the year, 
they have the ability to land a large proportion of the quota before 
fishermen in the north have the opportunity to fish, due to time/area 
closures and seasonal migrations of LCS and SCS. Indirect short-term 
socioeconomic impacts resulting from any of the actions in Alternative 
C1 would likely be neutral because the measures would maintain the 
status quo with respect to shark landings and fishing effort. However, 
this alternative would likely result in indirect long-term minor 
adverse socioeconomic impacts. Negative socioeconomic impacts and 
decreased revenues associated with financial difficulties experienced 
by fishermen within Atlantic shark fisheries would carry over to the 
dealers and supporting businesses they regularly interact with.
    Alternative C2 would apportion the Atlantic regional quotas for LCS 
and SCS along 33[deg]00' N. Lat. (approximately at Myrtle Beach, South 
Carolina) into northern and southern sub-regional quotas and 
potentially adjust the non-blacknose SCS quota based on the results of 
the 2013 assessments for Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead sharks. 
Establishing sub-regional quotas could allow for flexibility in 
seasonal openings within the Atlantic region. Different seasonal 
openings within sub-regions would allow fishermen to maximize their 
fishing effort during periods when sharks migrate into local waters or 
when regional time/area closures are not in effect. This would benefit 
the economic interests of North Carolina and Florida fishermen, the 
primary constituents impacted by the timing of seasonal openings for 
LCS and SCS in the Atlantic, by placing them in separate sub-regions 
with separate sub-regional quotas. Under this alternative, the northern 
Atlantic sub-region would receive 24.5 percent of the total aggregated 
LCS quota (41.4 mt dw; 91,275 lb dw) and 34.1 percent of the total 
hammerhead shark quota (9.2 mt dw; 20,370 lb dw). Based on the 2013 ex-
vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS and 
hammerhead shark meat in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$86,970, while the shark fins would be $19,705. Thus, total average 
annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark landings 
in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be $106,675 ($86,970 + 
$19,705). There are approximately 61 directed shark permit holders in 
the northern Atlantic sub-region. Based on this number of individual 
permits, the total average annual gross revenues for the directed 
permit holders in this sub-region would be $1,749 per vessel. When 
compared to the other alternatives, the northern Atlantic sub-region 
would have minor beneficial socioeconomic impacts under Alternative C2, 
because this alternative would result in the highest total average 
annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS and hammerhead sharks. In the 
southern Atlantic sub-region, fishermen would receive 75.5 percent of 
the total aggregated LCS quota (127.5 mt dw; 281,277 lb dw) and 65.9 
percent of the total hammerhead shark quota (17.9 mt dw; 39,366 lb dw). 
Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for 
aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark meat in the southern Atlantic sub-
region would be $253,029, while the shark fins would be $56,593. The 
total average annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS and hammerhead 
shark landings in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be $309,622 
($253,029 + $56,593). When compared to the other alternatives, the 
southern Atlantic sub-region would have minor adverse socioeconomic 
impacts under Alternative C2, because this alternative would result in 
lower total average annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS and 
hammerhead sharks.
    Under Alternative C2, NMFS would determine the blacknose shark 
quota for each sub-region using the percentage of landings associated 
with blacknose sharks within each sub-region and the new non-blacknose 
SCS quotas in conjunction with Alternatives C5, C6,

[[Page 2663]]

and C7. The northern Atlantic sub-region would receive 32.3 percent of 
the total non-blacknose SCS quota, while the southern Atlantic sub-
region would receive 67.7 percent of the total non-blacknose SCS quota 
in this alternative. For the blacknose sharks, the northern Atlantic 
sub-region would receive 4.5 percent of the total blacknose shark quota 
(0.8 mt dw; 1,739 lb dw), while the southern Atlantic sub-region would 
receive 95.5 percent of the total blacknose shark quota (16.7 mt dw; 
36,899 lb dw). Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross 
revenues for blacknose shark meat in the northern Atlantic sub-region 
would be $1,443, while the shark fins would be $307. Thus, total 
average annual gross revenues for blacknose shark landings in the 
northern Atlantic sub-region would be $1,750 ($1,443 + $307). Based on 
the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for blacknose 
shark meat in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be $30,626, while 
the shark fins would be $6,513. The total average annual gross revenues 
for blacknose shark landings in the southern Atlantic sub-region would 
be $37,139 ($30,626 + $6,513).
    This alternative would have minor beneficial socioeconomic impacts 
for the northern Atlantic sub-region fishermen when compared to 
Alternative C3, because fishermen in the northern Atlantic sub-region 
would receive a higher quota under Alternative C2. Alternative C2 would 
have minor adverse economic impacts for the southern Atlantic sub-
region fishermen when compared to other alternatives, because fishermen 
in the southern Atlantic sub-region would receive a lower quota under 
Alternative C2. The slight increase in some of the sub-regional quotas 
within the northern Atlantic sub-region would result in direct short-
term minor beneficial impacts, and ultimately direct long-term moderate 
beneficial impacts. Beneficial economic impacts are based on increased 
average annual gross revenues associated with increased aggregated LCS, 
hammerhead, and non-blacknose SCS sub-regional quotas in the northern 
Atlantic region seen in this alternative. While Alternative C2 would 
allow fishermen flexibility to maximize landings of LCS and SCS within 
their associated sub-regions, it does not take into consideration the 
SEDAR 34 stock assessment results or the quota linkages between non-
blacknose SCS and blacknose sharks, and therefore, NMFS does not prefer 
this alternative at this time.
    Alternative C3 would apportion the Atlantic regional quotas for LCS 
and SCS along 34[deg]00' N. Lat. (approximately at Wilmington, North 
Carolina) into northern and southern sub-regional quotas and 
potentially adjust the non-blacknose SCS quota based on the results of 
the 2013 assessments for Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead sharks. This 
alternative would likely result in direct short-term minor beneficial 
impacts, and ultimately direct long-term moderate beneficial impacts. 
However, drawing the regional boundary between the northern and 
southern Atlantic sub-regions along 34[deg]00' N. Lat. would result in 
more equitable sub-regional quotas, in comparison to the boundary 
considered in Alternative C2. Under this alternative, the northern 
Atlantic sub-region would receive 19.7 percent of the total aggregated 
LCS quota (33.3 mt dw; 73,393 lb dw) and 34.1 percent of the total 
hammerhead shark quota (9.2 mt dw; 20,370 lb dw). Based on the 2013 ex-
vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS and 
hammerhead shark meat in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$72,485, while the shark fins would be $16,549. Thus, total average 
annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark landings 
in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be $89,034 ($72,485 + 
$16,549). There are approximately 61 directed shark permit holders in 
the northern Atlantic sub-region. Based on this number of individual 
permits, the total average annual gross revenues for the directed 
permit holders in this sub-region would be $1,460 per vessel. When 
compared to Alternative C2, the northern Atlantic sub-region would have 
minor adverse economic impacts under this alternative. In the southern 
Atlantic sub-region, fishermen would receive 80.3 percent of the total 
aggregated LCS quota (135.6 mt dw; 299,159 lb dw) and 65.9 percent of 
the total hammerhead shark quota (17.9 mt dw; 39,366 lb dw). Based on 
the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS 
and hammerhead shark meat in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$267,513, while the shark fins would be $59,750. The total average 
annual gross revenues for aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark landings 
in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be $327,263 ($267,513 + 
$59,750). There are approximately 64 directed shark permit holders in 
the southern Atlantic sub-region. Based on this number of individual 
permits, the total average annual gross revenues for the directed 
permit holders in this sub-region would be $5,113 per vessel. This 
alternative would have minor beneficial economic impacts for the 
southern Atlantic sub-region fishermen when compared to Alternative C2.
    As in Alternative C2, NMFS would determine the blacknose shark 
quota for each sub-region using the percentage of landings associated 
with blacknose sharks within each sub-region in Alternative C3 and the 
new non-blacknose SCS quotas in conjunction in Alternatives C5, C6, and 
C7. Under Alternative C3, the northern Atlantic sub-region would 
receive 30.3 percent of the total non-blacknose SCS quota, while the 
southern Atlantic sub-region would receive 69.7 percent of the total 
non-blacknose SCS quota. For the blacknose sharks, the northern 
Atlantic sub-region would receive 4.5 percent of the total blacknose 
shark quota (0.8 mt dw; 1,732 lb dw), while the southern Atlantic sub-
region would receive 95.5 percent of the total blacknose shark quota 
(16.7 mt dw; 36,899 lb dw). Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the 
annual gross revenues for blacknose shark meat in the northern Atlantic 
sub-region would be $1,443, while the shark fins would be $307. Thus, 
total average annual gross revenues for blacknose shark landings in the 
northern Atlantic sub-region would be $1,750 ($1,443 + $307). Based on 
the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for blacknose 
shark meat in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be $30,626, while 
the shark fins would be $6,513. The total average annual gross revenues 
for blacknose shark landings in the southern Atlantic sub-region would 
be $37,139 ($30,626 + $6,513). This alternative would have neutral 
socioeconomic impacts for the northern Atlantic sub-region fishermen 
when compared to Alternative C2, and would have beneficial 
socioeconomic impacts for the southern Atlantic sub-region fishermen 
when compared to Alternative C2.
    Alternative C4, one of the preferred alternatives, would apportion 
the Atlantic regional quotas for certain LCS and SCS management groups 
along 34[deg]00' N. Latitude (approximately at Wilmington, North 
Carolina) into northern and southern sub-regional quotas, maintain SCS 
quota linkages in the southern sub-region of the Atlantic region, 
remove the SCS quota linkages in the northern sub-region of the 
Atlantic region, and prohibit the harvest and landings of blacknose 
sharks in the northern Atlantic sub-region. The socioeconomic impacts 
of apportioning the Atlantic regional quotas for LCS and SCS along 
34[deg]00' N. Lat. into northern and southern sub-regional quotas as 
preferred in this alternative would have the same impacts as described 
in

[[Page 2664]]

alternative C3 above. Removing quota linkages within the northern 
Atlantic sub-region would have beneficial impacts, as active fishermen 
in this region would be able to continue fishing for non-blacknose SCS 
without the fishing activities in the southern Atlantic sub-region, 
where the majority of blacknose sharks are landed, impacting the timing 
of the non-blacknose SCS fishery closure. Economic advantages 
associated with removing quota linkages, allowing the northern Atlantic 
sub-region to land a larger number of non-blacknose SCS, would outweigh 
the income lost from prohibiting landings of blacknose sharks ($1,750), 
particularly given the minimal landings of blacknose sharks attributed 
to the northern sub-region. In the southern Atlantic region, no 
socioeconomic impacts are expected by maintaining the quota linkages 
already in place for SCS. Thus, by removing quota linkages in the 
northern Atlantic region, in combination with apportioning the Atlantic 
regional quota at 34[deg]00' N. Lat. to allow fishermen to maximize 
their fishing effort, and thereby maximize revenue, during periods when 
sharks migrate into local waters or when regional time/area closures 
are not in place, Alternative C4 would result in overall direct and 
indirect, short- and long-term moderate beneficial socioeconomic 
impacts.
    Alternative C5 would establish a non-blacknose SCS TAC of 353.2 mt 
dw and reduce the non-blacknose SCS commercial quota to 128 mt dw 
(282,238 lb dw). When combined with the other alternatives to establish 
sub-regional non-blacknose SCS quotas, the economic impacts of 
Alternative C5 would vary based on the alternative. Under Alternative 
C2, the northern Atlantic sub-region would receive 32.2 percent of the 
total non-blacknose SCS quota (41.2 mt dw; 90,881 lb dw) and the 
southern Atlantic sub-region would receive 67.8 percent of the total 
non-blacknose SCS quota (86.8 mt dw; 191,357 lb dw). Based on the 2013 
ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS meat 
in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be $63,617, while the shark 
fins would be $16,040. Thus, total average annual gross revenues for 
non-blacknose SCS landings in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$79,657 ($63,617 + $16,040). There are approximately 61 directed shark 
permit holders in the northern Atlantic sub-region. Based on this 
number of individual permits, the total average annual gross revenues 
for the directed permit holders in this sub-region would be $1,306 per 
vessel. Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues 
for non-blacknose SCS meat in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$133,950, while the shark fins would be $33,775. The total average 
annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS landings in the southern 
Atlantic sub-region would be $167,724 ($133,950 + $33,775). There are 
approximately 56 directed shark permit holders in the southern Atlantic 
sub-region. Based on this number of individual permits, the total 
average annual gross revenues for the directed permit holders in this 
sub-region would be $2,995 per vessel. Sub-regional quotas under 
Alternative C2 are about a two percent increase in landings allocated 
to the northern region for non-blacknose SCS when compared to 
Alternative C3. This percentage would lead to a slight increase in some 
of the sub-regional quotas within the northern Atlantic sub-region, as 
compared to Alternative C3, and would result in short-term minor 
beneficial impacts, and ultimately long-term moderate beneficial 
impacts in the northern Atlantic sub-region.
    Using the quotas considered under Alternative C5 and the sub-
regional split under Alternatives C3 and C4 (preferred alternative), 
the northern Atlantic sub-region would receive 30.3 percent of the 
total non-blacknose SCS quota (38.8 mt dw; 85,518 lb dw), while the 
southern Atlantic sub-region would receive 69.7 percent of the total 
non-blacknose SCS quota (89.2 mt dw; 196,720 lb dw). Based on the 2013 
ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS meat 
in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be $59,863, while the shark 
fins would be $15,094. The total average annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS landings in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$74,957 ($59,863 + $15,094). There are approximately 53 directed shark 
permit holders in the northern Atlantic sub-region. Based on this 
number of individual permits, the total average annual gross revenues 
for the directed permit holders in this sub-region would be $1,414 per 
vessel. Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues 
for non-blacknose SCS meat in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$137,704, while the shark fins would be $34,721. The total average 
annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS landings in the southern 
Atlantic sub-region would be $172,425 ($137,704 + $34,721). There are 
approximately 64 directed shark permit holders in the southern Atlantic 
sub-region. Based on this number of individual permits, the total 
average annual gross revenues for the directed permit holders in this 
sub-region would be $2,694 per vessel. Overall, the non-blacknose SCS 
commercial quota considered under this alternative is almost thirty 
percent less than the current base quota and less than half of the 
current adjusted quota for this management group. Therefore, NMFS 
believes this alternative would have short- and long-term minor adverse 
socioeconomic impacts due to the quota being capped at a lower level 
than what is currently being landed in the non-blacknose SCS fisheries, 
leading to a loss in annual revenue for these shark fishermen. In 
addition, the adverse impacts would be compounded by the unknown stock 
status of bonnethead, which would prevent NMFS from carrying forward 
underharvested quota. Thus, the commercial quota of 128 mt dw would not 
be adjusted and the fishermen would be limited to this amount each 
year, which could lead to shorter seasons and reduced flexibility, 
potentially affecting fishermen's decisions to participate.
    Under Alternative C6, a preferred alternative, NMFS would establish 
a non-blacknose SCS TAC and maintain the current base annual quota of 
176.1 mt dw (388,222 lb dw). When combined with the other alternatives 
to establish sub-regional non-blacknose SCS quotas, the economic 
impacts of Alternative C6 would vary based on the sub-regional quotas. 
Under Alternatives C2, the northern Atlantic sub-region would receive 
32.2 percent of the total non-blacknose SCS quota (56.7 mt dw; 125,007 
lb dw) and the southern Atlantic sub-region would receive 67.8 percent 
of the total non-blacknose SCS quota (119.4 mt dw; 263,215 lb dw). 
Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS meat in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$87,505, while the shark fins would be $22,064. Thus, total average 
annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS landings in the northern 
Atlantic sub-region would be $109,569 ($87,505 + $22,064). There are 
approximately 61 directed shark permit holders in the northern Atlantic 
sub-region. Based on this number of individual permits, the total 
average annual gross revenues for the directed permit holders in this 
sub-region would be $1,796 per vessel. Based on the 2013 ex-vessel 
prices, the annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS meat in the 
southern Atlantic sub-region would be $184,251, while the shark fins 
would be $46,457. The total average annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS landings in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$230,708 ($184,251 +

[[Page 2665]]

$46,457). There are approximately 56 directed shark permit holders in 
the southern Atlantic sub-region. Based on this number of individual 
permits, the total average annual gross revenues for the directed 
permit holders in this sub-region would be $4,119 per vessel. Sub-
regional quotas under Alternative C2 would lead to some slightly higher 
sub-regional quotas within the northern Atlantic sub-region, as 
compared to Alternative C3, and would result in short-term minor 
beneficial impacts, and ultimately long-term moderate beneficial 
impacts in the northern Atlantic sub-region.
    Using the quotas considered under Alternative C6 and the sub-
regional split considered under Alternatives C3 and C4 (preferred 
alternative), the northern Atlantic sub-region would receive 30.3 
percent of the total non-blacknose SCS quota (53.4 mt dw; 117,631 lb 
dw), while the southern Atlantic sub-region would receive 69.7 percent 
of the total non-blacknose SCS quota (123.7 mt dw; 270,591 lb dw). 
Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS meat in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$82,342, while the shark fins would be $20,762. The total average 
annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS landings in the northern 
Atlantic sub-region would be $103,104 ($82,342 + $20,762). There are 
approximately 53 directed shark permit holders in the northern Atlantic 
sub-region. Based on this number of individual permits, the total 
average annual gross revenues for the directed permit holders in this 
sub-region would be $1,945 per vessel. Based on the 2013 ex-vessel 
prices, the annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS meat in the 
southern Atlantic sub-region would be $189,414, while the shark fins 
would be $47,759. The total average annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS landings in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$237,173 ($189,414 + $47,759). There are approximately 64 directed 
shark permit holders in the southern Atlantic sub-region. Based on this 
number of individual permits, the total average annual gross revenues 
for the directed permit holders in this sub-region would be $3,706 per 
vessel. Overall, Alternative C6 would lead to a lower quota in the 
northern Atlantic sub-region, as compared to current landings under the 
higher base quota. However, NMFS prefers this alternative at this time 
because it accounts for the status of Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead 
sharks and takes into account all sources of mortality for both species 
and would continue to allow fishermen to land non-blacknose SCS at 
current levels.
    Under Alternative C7, NMFS would establish a non-blacknose SCS TAC 
of 489.3 mt dw and increase the quota to the current adjusted base 
annual quota of 264.1 mt dw (582,333 lb dw). The economic impacts of 
Alternative C7 would vary when combined with the other alternatives to 
establish sub-regional non-blacknose SCS quotas. Under Alternative C2, 
the northern Atlantic sub-region would receive 32.2 percent of the 
total non-blacknose SCS quota (85.0 mt dw; 187,511 lb dw) and the 
southern Atlantic sub-region would receive 67.8 percent of the total 
non-blacknose SCS quota (179.1 mt dw; 394,822 lb dw). Based on the 2013 
ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS meat 
in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be $131,258, while the shark 
fins would be $33,096. Thus, total average annual gross revenues for 
non-blacknose SCS landings in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$164,353 ($131,258 + $33,096). There are approximately 61 directed 
shark permit holders in the northern Atlantic sub-region. Based on this 
number of individual permits, the total average annual gross revenues 
for the directed permit holders in this sub-region would be $2,694 per 
vessel. Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues 
for non-blacknose SCS meat in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$276,375, while the shark fins would be $69,686. The total average 
annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS landings in the southern 
Atlantic sub-region would be $346,061 ($276,375 + $69,686). There are 
approximately 56 directed shark permit holders in the southern Atlantic 
sub-region. Based on this number of individual permits, the total 
average annual gross revenues for the directed permit holders in this 
sub-region would be $6,179 per vessel. Sub-regional quotas under 
Alternatives C2 would lead to some slightly higher sub-regional quotas 
within the northern Atlantic sub-region, as compared to Alternative C3 
and C4, and would result in short-term minor beneficial impacts, and 
ultimately long-term moderate beneficial impacts in the northern 
Atlantic sub-region, especially if there is no quota linkage to 
blacknose sharks in the northern Atlantic sub-region.
    Using the quotas considered under Alternative C7 and the sub-
regional split considered under Alternatives C3 and C4 (preferred 
alternative), the northern Atlantic sub-region would receive 30.3 
percent of the total non-blacknose SCS quota (80.0 mt dw; 176,447 lb 
dw), while the southern Atlantic sub-region would receive 69.7 percent 
of the total non-blacknose SCS quota (184.1 mt dw; 405,886 lb dw). 
Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS meat in the northern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$123,513, while the shark fins would be $31,143. The total average 
annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS landings in the northern 
Atlantic sub-region would be $154,656 ($123,513 + $31,143). There are 
approximately 53 directed shark permit holders in the northern Atlantic 
sub-region. Based on this number of individual permits, the total 
average annual gross revenues for the directed permit holders in this 
sub-region would be $2,918 per vessel. Based on the 2013 ex-vessel 
prices, the annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS meat in the 
southern Atlantic sub-region would be $284,120, while the shark fins 
would be $71,639. The total average annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS landings in the southern Atlantic sub-region would be 
$355,759 ($284,120 + $71,639). There are approximately 64 directed 
shark permit holders in the southern Atlantic sub-region. Based on this 
number of individual permits, the total average annual gross revenues 
for the directed permit holders in this sub-region would be $5,559 per 
vessel. Overall, Alternative C7 would lead to the same quota in the 
northern Atlantic sub-region, as compared to current landings under the 
higher base quota. However, NMFS does not prefer this alternative at 
this time, because it would cap the non-blacknose SCS commercial at a 
higher level than Alternative C6 and does not account for the 
uncertainties in the SEDAR 34 bonnethead stock assessment.
Gulf of Mexico Regional and Sub-Regional Quotas
    Alternative D1, the No Action alternative, would maintain the 
current regional quotas and quota linkages in the Gulf of Mexico region 
and continue to allow harvest of hammerhead sharks throughout the 
entire Gulf of Mexico region. This alternative would likely result in 
short-term neutral direct socioeconomic impacts, because shark 
fishermen would continue to operate under current conditions, with 
shark fishermen continuing to fish at similar rates. Based on the 2013 
ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for the entire fleet from 
blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead shark meat in the Gulf of 
Mexico region would be $440,365, while the shark fins would be 
$554,750. Thus, total average annual gross revenues for blacktip, 
aggregated LCS, and hammerhead shark landings in

[[Page 2666]]

the Gulf of Mexico region would be $995,115 ($440,365 + $554,750), 
which would be 21 percent of the entire shark fishery. There are 
approximately 90 directed shark permit holders in the entire Gulf of 
Mexico, which would result in average annual gross revenues for all LCS 
species of $11,057 per vessel. For the non-blacknose SCS and blacknose 
shark landings, the annual gross revenues for the entire fleet from the 
meat would be $35,757, while the shark fins would be $58,495. The total 
average annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS and blacknose shark 
landings in the Atlantic region were $94,252 ($35,757 + $58,495), which 
is 2 percent of the entire revenue for the shark fishery. For the 
approximately 90 directed shark permit holders in the entire Gulf of 
Mexico, this which would result in average annual gross revenues for 
all SCS species of $1,047 per vessel. However, this alternative would 
likely result in long-term minor adverse socioeconomic impacts. 
Negative impacts would be partly due to the continued negative effects 
of federal and state regulations related to shark finning and sale of 
shark fins, which have resulted in declining ex-vessel prices of fins 
since 2010, as well as continued changes in shark fishery management 
measures. In addition, under the No Action alternative the non-
blacknose SCS quota would not be modified. This could potentially lead 
to negative socioeconomic impacts, since the non-blacknose SCS quotas 
could be increased based on the most recent stock assessment, as 
described in alternatives D5-D7 below. Additionally, under the current 
regulations, differences in regional season opening dates would impact 
the availability of quota remaining in the Gulf of Mexico. Florida 
fishermen begin fishing the LCS quotas in the beginning of the year, 
because sharks are in local waters. This puts Louisiana fishermen at a 
slight economic disadvantage, as they prefer to delay fishing in order 
to maximize fishing efforts during the religious holiday Lent when 
prices for shark meat are higher. Indirect short-term socioeconomic 
impacts resulting from any of the actions in Alternative D1 would 
likely be neutral. The measures would maintain the status quo with 
respect to shark landings and fishing effort. However, this alternative 
would likely result in indirect long-term minor adverse socioeconomic 
impacts. Negative socioeconomic impacts and decreased revenues 
associated with financial hardships experienced by fishermen within the 
Gulf of Mexico shark fisheries would carry over to the dealers and 
supporting businesses they regularly interact with. In addition, this 
alternative would not achieve the goals of this rulemaking of 
increasing management flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of the 
Atlantic shark fisheries.
    Alternative D2 would apportion the Gulf of Mexico regional quotas 
for blacktip, aggregated LCS and hammerhead sharks along 89[deg]00' W 
Longitude into western and eastern sub-regional quotas. Establishing 
sub-regional quotas would provide flexibility in seasonal openings 
within the Gulf of Mexico region. Different seasonal openings within 
sub-regions would allow fishermen to maximize their fishing effort 
during periods when sharks migrate into local waters or during periods 
when sales of shark meat are increased (e.g., in Louisiana, during 
Lent). Drawing the regional boundary between the eastern and western 
sub-regions along 89[deg]00' W Long. (between fishing catch areas 11 
and 12), would better geographically separate the fishing activities of 
the major fishing constituents in the Gulf of Mexico region (i.e., 
Louisiana and Florida), in contrast to the boundary in Alternative D3, 
as the general range of Louisiana fishermen does not extend beyond this 
boundary. Under this alternative, the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region 
would receive 94.1 mt dw in blacktip shark, 87.0 mt dw in aggregated 
LCS, and 25.2 mt dw in hammerhead shark quotas. Based on the 2013 ex-
vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for blacktip, aggregated LCS, 
and hammerhead shark meat in the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region 
would be $203,868, while the shark fins would be $80,259. Thus, total 
average annual gross revenues for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and 
hammerhead shark landings in the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region 
would be $284,127 ($203,868 + $80,259). There are approximately 66 
directed shark permit holders in the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region. 
Based on this number of individual directed permits, the total average 
annual gross revenues for the directed permit holders in this sub-
region would be $4,305 per vessel. When compared to the other 
alternatives, the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region would have minor 
beneficial socioeconomic impacts under Alternative D2, because this 
alternative would result in the highest total average annual gross 
revenues for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead sharks.
    In the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region under alternative D2, 
fishermen would receive 65.7 percent of the total blacktip quota (180.2 
mt dw; 397,239 lb dw), 42.5 percent of the total aggregated LCS quota 
(64.2 mt dw; 141,877 lb dw), and 0.6 percent of the total hammerhead 
shark quota (0.1 mt dw; 334 lb dw). Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, 
the annual gross revenues for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead 
shark meat in the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region would be $236,497, 
while the shark fins would be $95,213. Thus, total average annual gross 
revenues for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead shark landings in 
the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region would be $331,710 ($236,497 + 
$95,213). There are approximately 24 directed shark permit holders in 
the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region. Based on this number of 
individual directed permits, the total average annual gross revenues 
for the directed permit holders in this sub-region would be $13,821 per 
vessel. The slight increase in the blacktip shark sub-regional quota in 
the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region, in comparison to Alternative D3, 
would result in direct short-term minor beneficial socioeconomic 
impacts. Over time, increased revenues gained from the additional 
blacktip shark sub-regional quota, as well as increased revenue 
associated with fishermen maximizing their fishing effort during 
periods when sharks migrate into local waters, could ultimately have 
direct long-term moderate beneficial socioeconomic impacts. Under this 
alternative the quota for hammerheads sharks in the western sub-region 
would be 0.1 mt dw, which would be very difficult for NMFS to monitor 
and control, possibly leading to the quota being overharvested. This 
small hammerhead quota could lead to the aggregated LCS season being 
closed very early, and thus fishermen losing revenues if they are not 
able to land the aggregated LCS species. Therefore, because this 
alternative does not take into consideration the quota linkages between 
aggregated LCS and hammerhead sharks, NMFS does not prefer this 
alternative.
    Alternative D3 would apportion the Gulf of Mexico regional quotas 
for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead sharks along 88[deg]00' W 
Longitude into western and eastern sub-regional quotas. Under this 
alternative, the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region would receive 31.2 
percent of the total blacktip quota (85.6 mt dw; 188,643 lb dw), 53.2 
percent of the total aggregated LCS quota (80.4 mt dw; 177,596 lb dw), 
and 99.4 percent of the total hammerhead shark quota (25.2 mt dw; 
55,388 lb dw). Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross 
revenues

[[Page 2667]]

for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead shark meat in the eastern 
Gulf of Mexico sub-region would be $188,961, while the shark fins would 
be $74,417. Thus, total average annual gross revenues for blacktip, 
aggregated LCS, and hammerhead shark landings in the eastern Gulf of 
Mexico sub-region would be $263,378 ($188,961 + $74,417). There are 
approximately 66 directed shark permit holders in the eastern Gulf of 
Mexico sub-region. Based on this number of individual directed permits, 
the total average annual gross revenues for the directed permit holders 
in this sub-region would be $3,991 per vessel. When compared to the 
other alternatives, the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region would have 
minor adverse socioeconomic impacts under Alternative D3, because this 
alternative would result in lower total average annual gross revenues 
for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead sharks.
    In the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region under alternative D3, 
fishermen would receive 68.8 percent of the total blacktip quota (188.7 
mt dw; 415,983 lb dw), 46.8 percent of the total aggregated LCS quota 
(70.8 mt dw; 156,232 lb dw), and 0.6 percent of the total hammerhead 
shark quota (0.1 mt dw; 334 lb dw). Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, 
the annual gross revenues for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead 
shark meat in the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region would be $251,403, 
while the shark fins would be $101,055. Thus, total average annual 
gross revenues for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead shark 
landings in the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region would be $352,458 
($251,403 + $101,055). There are approximately 24 directed shark permit 
holders in the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region. Based on this number 
of individual directed permits, the total average annual gross revenues 
for the directed permit holders in this sub-region would be $14,686 per 
vessel. This alternative would have minor beneficial economic impacts 
for the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region fishermen when compared to 
other alternatives, because fishermen in the sub-region would receive a 
higher quota. This alternative would likely result in direct short-term 
minor beneficial impacts, and ultimately direct long-term moderate 
beneficial impacts. However, drawing the regional boundary between the 
eastern and western Gulf of Mexico sub-regions along 88[deg]00' W Long. 
(i.e., between fishing catch areas 10 and 11) may not reflect 
geographic differences in the distribution of major fishing 
constituents in the region (i.e., Louisiana and Florida) as well as the 
boundary in Alternative D2, as fishermen from Louisiana would be 
encouraged to fish in waters farther east than they historically 
occupied, which could create future user group conflicts within the 
region. Despite beneficial economic impacts associated with this 
alternative, NMFS does not prefer this alternative at this time because 
the split in Alternative D2 may reflect the distribution of fishing 
constituents better.
    Alternative D4, one of the preferred alternatives, would apportion 
the Gulf of Mexico regional quotas for blacktip, aggregated LCS, and 
hammerhead sharks along 89[deg]00' W Longitude into western and eastern 
sub-regional quotas and would maintain LCS quota linkages in the 
eastern sub-region of the Gulf of Mexico region, remove the LCS quota 
linkages in the western sub-region of the Gulf of Mexico region, and 
prohibit the harvest of hammerhead sharks in the western Gulf of Mexico 
sub-region. Removing quota linkages within the western Gulf of Mexico 
sub-region would have beneficial socioeconomic impacts, as fishermen 
active in this region would be able to continuing fishing for 
aggregated LCS sharks without fishing activities in the eastern Gulf of 
Mexico sub-region dictating the timing of the aggregated LCS fishery 
closure. Economic advantages associated with removing quota linkages, 
allowing the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region to land a larger number 
of aggregated LCS, would outweigh the income lost from prohibiting 
landings of hammerhead sharks, particularly considering that the 
estimated hammerhead quota for the western Gulf of Mexico would be 0.1 
mt dw. In the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region, no socioeconomic 
impacts are expected by maintaining the quota linkages already in place 
for LCS. Thus, Alternative D4 would likely result in both direct and 
indirect short- and long-term neutral socioeconomic impacts across the 
entire Gulf of Mexico region, as increased revenues associated with 
increased flexibility with season opening dates as a result of 
implementing sub-regional quotas would be countered by potential losses 
from prohibiting landings of hammerhead sharks in the western Gulf of 
Mexico. Because Alternative D4 would have neutral economic impacts, but 
still maintain the objective of providing flexibility of implementation 
of shark management measures through the region, NMFS prefers this 
alternative at this time.
    Under Alternative D5, NMFS would establish a non-blacknose SCS TAC 
of 931.9 mt dw and maintain the current base annual quota of 45.5 mt dw 
(100,317 lb dw). This alternative would likely result in moderate 
adverse socioeconomic impacts, due to the quota being capped at a lower 
level than what the SEDAR 34 stock assessment indicated was 
sustainable. Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross 
revenues for non-blacknose SCS and blacknose shark meat in the Gulf of 
Mexico region would be $32,101, while the shark fins would be $55,977. 
Thus, total average annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS 
landings would be $88,078 ($32,101 + $55,977). There are approximately 
90 directed shark permit holders in the entire Gulf of Mexico, which 
would result in average annual gross revenues for all SCS species of 
$979 per vessel. When compared to Alternative D6, the preferred 
alternative, this alternative would result in $44,040 ($132,118-
$88,078) less in total gross annual revenue, or $489 less per vessel. 
In addition, the smaller quota under Alternative D5 could lead to 
shorter seasons, when compared to 2013 landings. For these reasons, 
NMFS does not prefer this alternative at this time.
    Under Alternative D6, the preferred alternative, NMFS would 
establish a non-blacknose SCS TAC of 954.7 mt dw and increase the quota 
to the current adjusted annual quota of 68.3 mt dw (150,476 lb dw). 
Based on the 2013 ex-vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS meat in the Gulf of Mexico region would be $48,152, while 
the shark fins would be $83,966. Thus, total average annual gross 
revenues for non-blacknose SCS landings would be $132,118 ($48,152 + 
$83,966). There are approximately 90 directed shark permit holders in 
the entire Gulf of Mexico, which would result in average annual gross 
revenues for all SCS species of $1,468 per vessel. NMFS prefers this 
alternative at this time because it would increase the non-blacknose 
SCS commercial quota above the current base quota and provide fishermen 
with additional opportunities to profit from landing non-blacknose SCS 
in the Gulf of Mexico region, compared to the quota considered under 
Alternative D5, while also taking into account uncertainties in SEDAR 
34, as well as the unknown status of bonnethead sharks.
    Under Alternative D7, would establish a non-blacknose SCS TAC of 
1,064.9 mt dw and increase the quota to 178.5 mt dw (393,566 lb dw). 
Under this alternative, the commercial quota would be increased to 
twice the current 2013 landings, which is almost four times the

[[Page 2668]]

current base annual quota for non-blacknose SCS. Based on the 2013 ex-
vessel prices, the annual gross revenues for non-blacknose SCS meat in 
the Gulf of Mexico region would be $125,941, while the shark fins would 
be $219,610. Thus, total average annual gross revenues for non-
blacknose SCS landings would be $345,551 ($125,941 + $219,610). There 
are approximately 90 directed shark permit holders in the entire Gulf 
of Mexico, which would result in average annual gross revenues for all 
LCS species of $3,839 per vessel. The quota considered under this 
alternative would result in an increase of $213,433 ($345,551 - 
$132,118) in annual revenues or an increase of $2,371 per vessel, over 
the quota considered in preferred Alternative D6. However, as mentioned 
above, NMFS anticipates that it is not likely that fishermen would 
economically benefit from the non-blacknose SCS quota considered under 
Alternative D7, since the linkage with the blacknose quota would be 
maintained, and therefore the non-blacknose SCS fishery would likely be 
closed based on the blacknose quota before the full non-blacknose SCS 
quota could be landed. For this reason, and because there are 
uncertainties associated with the SEDAR 34 stock assessments, NMFS does 
not prefer this alternative at this time.
Upgrading Restrictions
    Under Alternative E1, the No Action alternative, NMFS would 
maintain the current upgrading restrictions in place for shark limited 
access permit holders. Thus, shark limited access permit holders would 
continue to be limited to upgrading a vessel or transferring a permit 
only if it does not result in an increase in horsepower of more than 20 
percent or an increase of more than 10 percent overall, gross 
registered tonnage, or net tonnage from the vessel baseline 
specifications. The No Action alternative could result in direct and 
indirect minor adverse socioeconomic impacts if fishermen continue to 
be constrained by limits on horsepower and vessel size increases. 
Fishermen would also be limited by these upgrading restrictions when 
buying, selling, or transferring shark directed limited access permits. 
Because the No Action alternative provides fishermen with less 
operational flexibility, NMFS does not prefer this alternative at this 
time.
    Alternative E2, a preferred alternative, would remove current 
upgrading restrictions for shark directed permit holders. Eliminating 
these restrictions would have short- and long-term minor beneficial 
socioeconomic impacts, since it would allow fishermen to buy, sell, or 
transfer shark directed permits without worrying about the increase in 
horsepower of more than 20 percent or an increase of more than 10 
percent in length overall, gross registered tonnage, or net tonnage 
from the vessel baseline specifications. In addition, the upgrade 
restriction for shark permit holders was implemented to match the 
upgrading restrictions for the Northeast multispecies permits. NMFS is 
currently considering removing the upgrading restrictions for the 
Northeast multispecies permits, and if those are removed, then removing 
the upgrading restrictions for shark directed permit holders could aid 
in maintaining consistency for fishermen who hold multiple permits.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 635

    Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Penalties, Permits and fees, 
Commercial retention limits, Quotas.

    Dated: January 12, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 635 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 635--ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 635 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. In Sec.  635.2, the ``Management group'' definition is added in 
alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec.  635.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Management group in regard to sharks means a group of shark species 
that are combined for quota management purposes. A management group may 
be split by region and sub-region, as defined at Sec.  635.27(b)(1). A 
fishery for a management group can be opened or closed as a whole or at 
the regional or sub-regional levels. Sharks have the following 
management groups: Atlantic aggregated LCS, Gulf of Mexico aggregated 
LCS, research LCS, hammerhead, Atlantic non-blacknose SCS, Gulf of 
Mexico non-blacknose SCS, and pelagic sharks other than blue or 
porbeagle.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  635.4, revise paragraphs (l)(2)(i) and the introductory 
text of paragraph (l)(2)(ii), and remove paragraph (l)(2)(x) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  635.4  Permits and fees.

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) Subject to the restrictions on upgrading the harvesting 
capacity of permitted vessels in paragraph (l)(2)(ii) of this section, 
as applicable, and to the limitations on ownership of permitted vessels 
in paragraph (l)(2)(iii) of this section, an owner may transfer a shark 
or swordfish LAP or an Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit to 
another vessel that he or she owns or to another person. Directed 
handgear LAPs for swordfish may be transferred to another vessel or to 
another person but only for use with handgear and subject to the 
upgrading restrictions in paragraph (l)(2)(ii) of this section and the 
limitations on ownership of permitted vessels in paragraph (l)(2)(iii) 
of this section. Shark directed and incidental LAPs and swordfish 
incidental LAPs are not subject to the upgrading requirements specified 
in paragraph (l)(2)(ii) of this section. Shark and swordfish incidental 
LAPs are not subject to the ownership requirements specified in 
paragraph (l)(2)(iii) of this section.
    (ii) An owner may upgrade a vessel with a swordfish LAP or an 
Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit, or transfer such permit to 
another vessel or to another person, and be eligible to retain or renew 
such permit only if the upgrade or transfer does not result in an 
increase in horsepower of more than 20 percent or an increase of more 
than 10 percent in length overall, gross registered tonnage, or net 
tonnage from the vessel baseline specifications. A vessel owner that 
concurrently held a directed or incidental swordfish LAP, a directed or 
incidental shark LAP, and an Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit as 
of August 6, 2007, is eligible to increase the vessel size or transfer 
the permits to another vessel as long as any increase in the three 
specifications of vessel size (length overall, gross registered 
tonnage, and net tonnage) does not exceed 35 percent of the vessel 
baseline specifications, as defined in paragraph (l)(2)(ii)(A) of this 
section; horsepower for those eligible vessels is not limited for 
purposes of vessel upgrades or permit transfers.
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  635.24, paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) are revised and 
paragraphs (a)(4)(v) and (vi) are added to read as follows:


Sec.  635.24  Commercial retention limits for sharks, swordfish, and 
BAYS tunas.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *

[[Page 2669]]

    (2) Except as noted in paragraphs (a)(4)(iv) through (vi) of this 
section, a person who owns or operates a vessel that has been issued a 
directed LAP for sharks and does not have a valid shark research 
permit, or a person who owns or operates a vessel that has been issued 
a directed LAP for sharks and that has been issued a shark research 
permit but does not have a NMFS-approved observer on board, may retain, 
possess, or land no more than 55 LCS other than sandbar sharks per 
vessel per trip if the respective LCS management group(s) is open per 
Sec. Sec.  635.27 and 635.28. Such persons may not retain, possess, or 
land sandbar sharks.
    (3) Except as noted in paragraphs (a)(4)(iv) through (vi) of this 
section, a person who owns or operates a vessel that has been issued an 
incidental LAP for sharks and does not have a valid shark research 
permit, or a person who owns or operates a vessel that has been issued 
an incidental LAP for sharks and that has been issued a valid shark 
research permit but does not have a NMFS-approved observer on board, 
may retain, possess, or land no more than 3 LCS other than sandbar 
sharks per vessel per trip if the respective LCS management group(s) is 
open per Sec. Sec.  635.27 and 635.28. Such persons may not retain, 
possess, or land sandbar sharks.
    (4) * * *
    (v) A person who owns or operates a vessel that has been issued a 
shark LAP and is operating in the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region, as 
defined at Sec.  635.27(b)(1)(ii), may not retain, possess, land, or 
sell any hammerhead sharks.
    (vi) A person who owns or operates a vessel that has been issued a 
shark LAP and is operating in the northern Atlantic sub-region, as 
defined at Sec.  635.27(b)(1)(i), may not retain, possess, land, or 
sell any blacknose sharks.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  635.27:
0
a. Paragraph (b)(1) as proposed to be amended at 79 FR 46217, August 7, 
2014, is further revised; and
0
b. Paragraph (b)(2) introductory text, and paragraphs (b)(2)(i), 
(b)(2)(ii), (b)(2)(iii) introductory text, and (b)(3) introductory text 
are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  635.27  Quotas.

* * * * *
    (b) Sharks. (1) Commercial quotas. The commercial quotas for sharks 
specified in this section apply to all sharks harvested from the 
management unit. Sharks taken and landed commercially from state 
waters, even by fishermen without Federal shark permits, must be 
counted against the appropriate commercial quota. Any of the base 
quotas listed below, including regional and/or sub-regional base 
quotas, may be adjusted per paragraph (b)(2) of this section. Any 
sharks landed commercially as ``unclassified'' will be counted against 
the appropriate quota based on the species composition calculated from 
data collected by observers on non-research trips and/or dealer data. 
No prohibited sharks, including parts or pieces of prohibited sharks, 
which are listed under heading D of Table 1 of Appendix A to this part, 
may be retained except as authorized under Sec.  635.32. For the 
purposes of this section, the boundary between the Gulf of Mexico 
region and the Atlantic region is defined as a line beginning on the 
east coast of Florida at the mainland at 25[deg]20.4' N. lat, 
proceeding due east. Any water and land to the south and west of that 
boundary is considered, for the purposes of quota monitoring and 
setting of quotas, to be within the Gulf of Mexico region. Any water 
and land to the north and east of that boundary, for the purposes of 
quota monitoring and setting of quotas, is considered to be within the 
Atlantic region.
    (i) Commercial quotas that apply only in the Atlantic Region. The 
commercial quotas specified in this paragraph (b)(1)(i) apply only to 
those species of sharks and management groups within the management 
unit that were harvested in the Atlantic region, as defined in 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section. The Atlantic region is further split 
into northern and southern Atlantic sub-regions along 34[deg]00' N. 
lat., which is near Wilmington, North Carolina. All fish harvested 
within the Atlantic region in fishing catch areas in waters north of 
34[deg]00' N. lat. are considered to be from the northern Atlantic sub-
region, and all fish harvested within the Atlantic region in fishing 
catch areas in waters south of 34[deg]00' N. lat. are considered to be 
from the southern Atlantic sub-region.
    (A) Atlantic aggregated LCS. The base annual commercial quota for 
Atlantic aggregated LCS is 168.9 mt dw. The northern Atlantic sub-
region base quota is 33.3 mt dw (19.7% of the Atlantic region base 
quota) and southern Atlantic sub-region base quota is 135.6 mt dw 
(80.3% of the Atlantic region base quota).
    (B) Atlantic hammerhead sharks. The regional base annual commercial 
quota for hammerhead sharks caught in the Atlantic region is 27.1 mt dw 
(51.7% of the overall base quota established in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) 
of this section). The northern Atlantic sub-region base quota is 9.2 mt 
dw (34.1% of this regional base quota) and southern Atlantic sub-region 
base quota is 17.9 mt dw (65.9% of this regional base quota).
    (C) Atlantic non-blacknose SCS. The base annual commercial quota 
for Atlantic non-blacknose SCS is 176.1 mt dw. The northern Atlantic 
sub-region base quota is 53.4 mt dw (30.3% of the Atlantic region base 
quota) and southern Atlantic sub-region base quota is 123.7 mt dw 
(69.7% of the Atlantic region base quota).
    (D) Atlantic blacknose sharks. The base annual commercial quota for 
Atlantic blacknose sharks is 18 mt dw. The northern Atlantic sub-region 
base quota is 0.0 mt dw (0.0% of the Atlantic region base quota) and 
southern Atlantic sub-region base quota is 16.7 mt dw (95.5% of the 
Atlantic region base quota).
    (ii) Commercial quotas that apply only in the Gulf of Mexico 
Region. The commercial quotas specified in this paragraph (b)(1)(ii) 
apply only to those species of sharks and management groups within the 
management unit that were harvested in the Gulf of Mexico region, as 
defined in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. The Gulf of Mexico region 
is further split into western and eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-regions by 
a boundary that is drawn along 89[deg]00' W. long., but that 
circumvents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Breton National Wildlife 
Refuge at 29[deg]30' N. lat., 89[deg] W. long.; then proceeds to 
30[deg]23' N. lat., 89[deg] W. long.; before returning to 89[deg]00' W. 
long. All fish harvested within the Gulf of Mexico region in fishing 
catch areas in waters westward of 89[deg]00' W. long. are considered to 
be from the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region, and all fish harvested 
within the Gulf of Mexico region in fishing catch areas in waters east 
of 89[deg]00' W. long., including within the Caribbean Sea, are 
considered to be from the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region.
    (A) Gulf of Mexico aggregated LCS. The base annual commercial quota 
for Gulf of Mexico aggregated LCS is 157.3 mt dw. The eastern Gulf of 
Mexico sub-region base quota is 87.0 mt dw (57.5% of the Gulf of Mexico 
region base quota) and the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region base quota 
is 64.2 mt dw (42.5% of the Gulf of Mexico region base quota).
    (B) Gulf of Mexico hammerhead sharks. The regional base annual 
commercial quota for hammerhead sharks caught in the Gulf of Mexico 
region is 25.3 mt dw (48.3% of the overall base quota established in 
paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section). The eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-
region base quota is 25.2 mt dw (99.4% of this regional base quota) and 
western Gulf of

[[Page 2670]]

Mexico sub-region base quota is 0.0 mt dw (0.0% of this regional base 
quota).
    (C) Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks. The base annual commercial 
quota for Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks is 256.6 mt dw. The eastern 
Gulf of Mexico sub-region base quota is 180.2 mt dw (34.3% of the Gulf 
of Mexico region base quota) and the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region 
base quota is 94.1 mt dw (65.7% of the Gulf of Mexico region base 
quota).
    (D) Gulf of Mexico non-blacknose SCS. The base annual commercial 
quota for Gulf of Mexico non-blacknose SCS is 68.3 mt dw. This base 
quota is not split between the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico sub-
regions.
    (E) Gulf of Mexico blacknose sharks. The base annual commercial 
quota for Gulf of Mexico blacknose sharks is 2.0 mt dw. This base quota 
is not split between the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico sub-
regions.
    (iii) Commercial quotas that apply in all regions. The commercial 
quotas specified in this section apply to any sharks or management 
groups within the management unit that were harvested in either the 
Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico regions.
    (A) Sandbar sharks. The base annual commercial quota for sandbar 
sharks is 75.7 mt dw. This quota, as adjusted per paragragh (b)(2) of 
this section, is available only to the owners of commercial shark 
vessels that have been issued a valid shark research permit and that 
have a NMFS-approved observer onboard.
    (B) Research LCS. The base annual commercial quota for Research LCS 
is 50 mt dw. This quota, as adjusted per paragragh (b)(2) of this 
section, is available only to the owners of commercial shark vessels 
that have been issued a valid shark research permit and that have a 
NMFS-approved observer onboard.
    (C) Hammerhead sharks. The overall base annual commercial quota for 
hammerhead sharks is 52.4 mt dw. This overall base quota is further 
split for management purposes between the regions defined in paragraphs 
(b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(ii) of this section.
    (D) Pelagic sharks. The base annual commercial quotas for pelagic 
sharks are 273.0 mt dw for blue sharks, 1.7 mt dw for porbeagle sharks, 
and 488.0 mt dw for pelagic sharks other than blue sharks or porbeagle 
sharks.
    (E) Smoothhound sharks. The base annual commercial quota for 
smoothhound sharks is 1782.2 mt dw.
    (2) Annual and inseason adjustments of commercial quotas. NMFS will 
publish in the Federal Register any annual or inseason adjustments to 
the base annual commercial overall, regional, or sub-regional quotas. 
No quota will be available, and the fishery will not open, until any 
adjustments are published in the Federal Register and effective. Within 
a fishing year or at the start of a fishing year, NMFS may transfer 
quotas between regions and sub-regions of the same species or 
management group, as appropriate, based on the criteria in paragraph 
(b)(2)(iii) of this section.
    (i) Annual overharvest adjustments.
    (A) Adjustments of annual overall and regional base quotas. Except 
as noted in this section, if any of the available commercial base or 
adjusted overall quotas or regional quotas, as described in this 
section, is exceeded in any fishing year, NMFS will deduct an amount 
equivalent to the overharvest(s) from the base overall or regional 
quota the following fishing year or, depending on the level of 
overharvest(s), NMFS may deduct from the overall or regional base quota 
an amount equivalent to the overharvest(s) spread over a number of 
subsequent fishing years to a maximum of five years. If the blue shark 
quota is exceeded, NMFS will reduce the annual commercial quota for 
pelagic sharks by the amount that the blue shark quota is exceeded 
prior to the start of the next fishing year or, depending on the level 
of overharvest(s), deduct an amount equivalent to the overharvest(s) 
spread over a number of subsequent fishing years to a maximum of five 
years.
    (B) Adjustments to sub-regional quotas. If a sub-regional quota is 
exceeded but the regional quota is not, NMFS will not reduce the annual 
regional base quota the following year and sub-regional quotas will be 
determined as specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. If both a 
sub-regional quota(s) and the regional quota are exceeded, for each 
sub-region in which an overharvest occurred, NMFS will deduct an amount 
equivalent to that sub-region's overharvest from that sub-region's 
quota the following fishing year or, depending on the level of 
overharvest, NMFS may deduct from that sub-region's base quota an 
amount equivalent to the overharvest spread over a number of subsequent 
fishing years to a maximum of five years.
    (C) Adjustments to quotas when the species or management group is 
split into regions or sub-regions for management purposes and not as a 
result of a stock assessment. If a regional quota for a species that is 
split into regions for management purposes only is exceeded but the 
overall quota is not, NMFS will not reduce the overall base quota for 
that species or management group the following year and the regional 
quota will be determined as specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section. If both a regional quota(s) and the overall quota is exceeded, 
for each region in which an overharvest occurred, NMFS will deduct an 
amount equivalent to that region's overharvest from that region's quota 
the following fishing year or, depending on the level of 
overharvest(s), NMFS may deduct from that region's base quota an amount 
equivalent to the overharvest spread over a number of subsequent 
fishing years to a maximum of five years. If a sub-regional quota of a 
species or management group that is split into regions for management 
purposes only is exceeded, NMFS will follow the procedures specified in 
paragraph (b)(2)(i)(B) of this section.
    (ii) Annual underharvest adjustments. Except as noted in this 
paragraph, if any of the annual base or adjusted quotas, including 
regional quotas, as described in this section is not harvested, NMFS 
may adjust the annual base quota, including regional quotas, depending 
on the status of the stock or management group. If a species or a 
specific species within a management group is declared to be 
overfished, to have overfishing occurring, or to have an unknown 
status, NMFS may not adjust the following fishing year's base quota, 
including regional quota, for any underharvest, and the following 
fishing year's quota will be equal to the base annual quota. If the 
species or all species in a management group is not declared to be 
overfished, to have overfishing occurring, or to have an unknown 
status, NMFS may increase the following year's base annual quota, 
including regional quota, by an equivalent amount of the underharvest 
up to 50 percent above the base annual quota. Except as noted in 
paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, underharvests are not 
transferable between regions, species, and/or management groups.
    (iii) Determination criteria for inseason and annual quota 
transfers between regions and sub-regions. Inseason or annual quota 
transfers of quotas between regions or sub-regions may be conducted 
only for species or management groups where the species are the same 
between regions or sub-regions and the quota is split between regions 
or sub-regions for management purposes and not as a result of a stock 
assessment. Before making any inseason or annual quota transfer between 
regions or sub-regions, NMFS will consider the following criteria and 
other relevant factors:
* * * * *
    (3) Opening commercial fishing season criteria. NMFS will file with 
the

[[Page 2671]]

Office of the Federal Register for publication notification of the 
opening dates of the overall, regional, and sub-regional shark 
fisheries for each species and management group. Before making any 
decisions, NMFS would consider the following criteria and other 
relevant factors in establishing the opening dates:
* * * * *
0
6. In Sec.  635.28, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  635.28  Fishery closures.

* * * * *
    (b) Sharks. (1) A shark fishery that meets any of the following 
circumstances is closed and subject to the requirements of Sec.  
635.28(b)(6):
    (i) No overall, regional, and/or sub-regional quota, as applicable, 
is specified at Sec.  635.27(b)(1);
    (ii) The overall, regional, and/or sub-regional quota, as 
applicable, specified at Sec.  635.27(b)(1) is zero;
    (iii) After accounting for overharvests as specified at Sec.  
635.27(b)(2), the overall, regional, and/or sub-regional quota, as 
applicable, is determined to be zero or close to zero and NMFS has 
closed the fishery by publication of a notice in the Federal Register;
    (iv) The species is a prohibited species as listed under Table 1 of 
Appendix A of this part; or
    (v) Landings of the species and/or management group meet the 
requirements specified in Sec.  635.28(b)(2) through (5) and NMFS has 
closed the fishery by publication of a notice in the Federal Register.
    (2) Non-linked quotas: If the overall, regional, and/or sub-
regional quota of a species or management group is not linked to 
another species or management group and that overall, regional, and/or 
sub-regional quota is available as specified by a publication in the 
Federal Register, then that overall, regional, and/or sub-regional 
commercial fishery for the shark species or management group will open 
as specified in Sec.  635.27(b). When NMFS calculates that the overall, 
regional, and/or sub-regional landings for a shark species and/or 
management group, as specified in Sec.  635.27(b)(1), has reached or is 
projected to reach 80 percent of the available overall, regional, and/
or sub-regional quota as specified in Sec.  635.27(b)(1), NMFS will 
file for publication with the Office of the Federal Register a notice 
of an overall, regional, and/or sub-regional closure, as applicable, 
for that shark species and/or shark management group that will be 
effective no fewer than 5 days from date of filing. From the effective 
date and time of the closure until NMFS announces, via the publication 
of a notice in the Federal Register, that additional overall, regional, 
and/or sub-regional quota is available and the season is reopened, the 
overall, regional, and/or sub-regional fisheries for that shark species 
or management group are closed, even across fishing years.
    (3) Linked Quotas: As specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this 
section, the overall, regional, and/or sub-regional quotas of some 
shark species and/or management groups are linked to the overall, 
regional, and/or sub-regional quotas of other shark species and/or 
management groups. For each pair of linked species and/or management 
groups, if the overall, regional, and/or sub-regional quota specified 
in Sec.  635.27(b)(1) is available for both of the linked species and/
or management groups as specified by a publication in the Federal 
Register, then the overall, regional, and/or sub-regional commercial 
fishery for both of the linked species and/or management groups will 
open as specified in Sec.  635.27(b)(1). When NMFS calculates that the 
overall, regional, and/or sub-regional landings for any species and/or 
management group of a linked group has reached or is projected to reach 
80 percent of the available overall, regional, and/or sub-regional 
quota as specified in Sec.  635.27(b)(1), NMFS will file for 
publication with the Office of the Federal Register a notice of an 
overall, regional, and/or sub-regional closure for all of the species 
and/or management groups in that linked group that will be effective no 
fewer than 5 days from date of filing. From the effective date and time 
of the closure until NMFS announces, via the publication of a notice in 
the Federal Register, that additional overall, regional, and/or sub-
regional quota is available and the season is reopened, the overall, 
regional, and/or sub-regional fishery for all species and/or management 
groups in that linked group is closed, even across fishing years.
    (4) The quotas of the following species and/or management groups 
are linked:
    (i) Northern Atlantic hammerhead sharks and northern Atlantic 
aggregated LCS.
    (ii) Southern Atlantic hammerhead sharks and southern Atlantic 
aggregated LCS.
    (iii) Eastern Gulf of Mexico hammerhead sharks and eastern Gulf of 
Mexico aggregated LCS.
    (iv) Southern Atlantic blacknose sharks and southern Atlantic non-
blacknose SCS.
    (v) Gulf of Mexico blacknose sharks and Gulf of Mexico non-
blacknose SCS.
    (5) NMFS may close the regional or sub-regional Gulf of Mexico 
blacktip shark management group(s) before landings reach, or are 
expected to reach, 80 percent of the quota. Before taking any inseason 
action, NMFS will consider the following criteria and other relevant 
factors:
    (i) Estimated Gulf of Mexico blacktip shark season length based on 
available sub-regional quotas and average sub-regional weekly catch 
rates during the current fishing year and from previous years;
    (ii) Variations in regional and/or sub-regional seasonal 
distribution, abundance, or migratory patterns of blacktip sharks, 
hammerhead sharks, and aggregated LCS based on scientific and fishery 
information;
    (iii) Effects of the adjustment on accomplishing the objectives of 
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments;
    (iv) The amount of remaining shark quotas in the relevant sub-
regions, to date, based on dealer or other reports; and,
    (v) The regional and/or sub-regional catch rates of the relevant 
shark species or management group(s), to date, based on dealer or other 
reports.
    (6) When the overall, regional, and/or sub-regional fishery for a 
shark species and/or management group is closed, a fishing vessel, 
issued a Federal Atlantic commercial shark permit pursuant to Sec.  
635.4, may not possess, retain, land, or sell a shark of that species 
and/or management group that was caught within the closed region or 
sub-region, except under the conditions specified in Sec.  635.22(a) 
and (c) or if the vessel possesses a valid shark research permit under 
Sec.  635.32, a NMFS-approved observer is onboard, and the sandbar and/
or Research LCS fishery, as applicable, is open. A shark dealer, issued 
a permit pursuant to Sec.  635.4, may not purchase or receive a shark 
of that species and/or management group that was caught within the 
closed region or sub-region from a vessel issued a Federal Atlantic 
commercial shark permit, except that a permitted shark dealer or 
processor may possess sharks that were caught in the closed region or 
sub-region that were harvested, off-loaded, and sold, traded, or 
bartered, prior to the effective date of the closure and were held in 
storage. Under a closure for a shark species or management group, a 
shark dealer, issued a permit pursuant to Sec.  635.4 may, in 
accordance with State regulations, purchase or receive a shark of that 
species or management group if the shark was harvested, off-loaded, and 
sold, traded, or bartered from a vessel

[[Page 2672]]

that fishes only in State waters and that has not been issued a Federal 
Atlantic commercial shark permit, HMS Angling permit, or HMS Charter/
Headboat permit pursuant to Sec.  635.4. Additionally, under an 
overall, a regional, or a sub-regional closure for a shark species and/
or management group, a shark dealer, issued a permit pursuant to Sec.  
635.4, may purchase or receive a shark of that species group if the 
sandbar or Research LCS fishery, as applicable, is open and the shark 
was harvested, off-loaded, and sold, traded, or bartered from a vessel 
issued a valid shark research permit (per Sec.  635.32) that had a 
NMFS-approved observer on board during the trip the shark was 
collected.
    (7) If the Atlantic Tunas Longline category quota is closed as 
specified in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, vessels that have 
pelagic longline gear on board cannot possess, retain, land, or sell 
sharks.
* * * * *
0
7. In Sec.  635.31, paragraphs (c)(1) and (4) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec.  635.31  Restrictions on sale and purchase.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Persons that own or operate a vessel that possesses, retains, 
or lands a shark from the management unit may sell such shark only if 
the vessel has a valid commercial shark permit issued under this part. 
Persons may possess, retain, land, and sell a shark only to a 
federally-permitted dealer and only when the fishery for that species, 
management group, region, and/or sub-region has not been closed, as 
specified in Sec.  635.28(b). Persons that own or operate a vessel that 
has pelagic longline gear onboard can possess, retain, land, and sell a 
shark only if the Atlantic Tunas Longline category has not been closed, 
as specified in Sec.  635.28(a).
* * * * *
    (4) Only dealers who have a valid Federal Atlantic shark dealer 
permit and who have submitted reports to NMFS according to reporting 
requirements of Sec.  635.5(b)(1)(ii) may first receive a shark from an 
owner or operator of a vessel that has, or is required to have, a valid 
Federal Atlantic commercial shark permit issued under this part. 
Dealers may purchase a shark only from an owner or operator of a vessel 
who has a valid commercial shark permit issued under this part, except 
that dealers may purchase a shark from an owner or operator of a vessel 
who does not have a Federal Atlantic commercial shark permit if that 
vessel fishes exclusively in state waters and does not possess a HMS 
Angling permit or HMS Charter/Headboat permit pursuant to Sec.  635.4. 
Atlantic shark dealers may purchase a sandbar shark only from an owner 
or operator of a vessel who has a valid shark research permit and who 
had a NMFS-approved observer onboard the vessel for the trip in which 
the sandbar shark was collected. Atlantic shark dealers may purchase a 
shark from an owner or operator of a fishing vessel who has a valid 
commercial shark permit issued under this part only when the fishery 
for that species, management group, region, and/or sub-region has not 
been closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(b). Atlantic shark dealers 
may first receive a shark from a vessel that has pelagic longline gear 
onboard only if the Atlantic Tunas Longline category has not been 
closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(a).
* * * * *
0
8. In Sec.  635.34, paragraphs (a) and (b) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec.  635.34  Adjustment of management measures.

    (a) NMFS may adjust the IBQ shares or resultant allocations for 
bluefin tuna, as specified in Sec.  635.15; catch limits for bluefin 
tuna, as specified in Sec.  635.23; the overall, regional, and/or sub-
regional quotas for bluefin tuna, sharks, swordfish, and northern 
albacore tuna as specified in Sec.  635.27; the retention limits for 
sharks, as specified at Sec.  635.24; the regional retention limits for 
Swordfish General Commercial permit holders, as specified at Sec.  
635.24; the marlin landing limit, as specified in Sec.  635.27(d); and 
the minimum sizes for Atlantic blue marlin, white marlin, and 
roundscale spearfish as specified in Sec.  635.20.
    (b) In accordance with the framework procedures in the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP, NMFS may establish or modify for species or 
species groups of Atlantic HMS the following management measures: 
Maximum sustainable yield or optimum yield based on the latest stock 
assessment or updates in the SAFE report; domestic quotas; recreational 
and commercial retention limits, including target catch requirements; 
size limits; fishing years or fishing seasons; shark fishing regions, 
or regional and/or sub-regional quotas; species in the management unit 
and the specification of the species groups to which they belong; 
species in the prohibited shark species group; classification system 
within shark species groups; permitting and reporting requirements; 
workshop requirements; the IBQ shares or resultant allocations for 
bluefin tuna; administration of the IBQ program (including but not 
limited to requirements pertaining to leasing of IBQ allocations, 
regional or minimum IBQ share requirements, IBQ share caps (individual 
or by category), permanent sale of shares, NED IBQ rules, etc.); time/
area restrictions; allocations among user groups; gear prohibitions, 
modifications, or use restriction; effort restrictions; observer 
coverage requirements; EM requirements; essential fish habitat; and 
actions to implement ICCAT recommendations, as appropriate.
* * * * *
0
9. In Sec.  635.71, paragraphs (d)(3) and (d)(4) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec.  635.71  Prohibitions

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) Retain, possess, or land a shark of a species or management 
group when the fishery for that species, management group, region, and/
or sub-region is closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(b).
    (4) Sell or purchase a shark of a species or management group when 
the fishery for that species, management group, region, and/or sub-
region is closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(b).
* * * * *
0
10. In Appendix A to Part 635, Section B of Table 1 is revised to read 
as follows:

[[Page 2673]]

Appendix A to Part 635--Species Tables

            Table 1 of Appendix A to Part 635--Oceanic Sharks
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
B. Small Coastal Sharks.
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Atlantic sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon
 terraenovae.
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico blacknose, Carcharhinus acronotus.
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico bonnethead, Sphyrna tiburo.
Finetooth, Carcharhinus isodon.
 
                              * * * * * * *
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[FR Doc. 2015-00548 Filed 1-16-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P`