[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35357-35358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14458]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC051
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Commercial Atlantic Region
Non-Sandbar Large Coastal Shark Fishery Opening Date
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; fishery opening date.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing the opening date of the commercial Atlantic
region non-sandbar large coastal shark fishery. This action is
necessary to inform fishermen and dealers about the fishery opening
date.
DATES: The commercial Atlantic region non-sandbar large coastal shark
fishery will open on July 15, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz or Guy DuBeck,
301-427-8503; fax 301-713-1917.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
Fishery Management Plan (FMP), its amendments, and its implementing
regulations found at 50 CFR part 635 issued under authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.).
On January 24, 2012 (77 FR 3393), the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) published a final rule that established quota levels and
opening dates for the 2012 Atlantic commercial shark fisheries. In the
final rule, we stated that the 2012 Atlantic non-sandbar large coastal
shark (LCS) fishery would open on either the effective date of the
final rule implementing the Atlantic HMS electronic dealer
[[Page 35358]]
reporting system (76 FR 37750; June 28, 2011) or July 15, 2012,
whichever occurs first. We are still working on integrating the
Atlantic HMS electronic dealer reporting system with other existing and
new electronic programs in the Northeast and Southeast regions. Once
the electronic dealer system is available, we will conduct training
workshops and webinars to introduce and train dealers how to use the
new system before implementation. Thus, we do not expect the system to
be in place before July 15, and will open the commercial Atlantic
region non-sandbar LCS fishery on July 15, 2012.
All of the shark fisheries will remain open until December 31,
2012, unless we determine that the fishing season landings have
reached, or are projected to reach, 80 percent of the available quota.
At that time, consistent with Sec. 635.27(b)(1), we will file for
publication with the Office of the Federal Register a closure action
for that shark species group and/or region that will be effective no
fewer than 5 days from the date of filing. From the effective date and
time of the closure until we announce, via a Federal Register action
that additional quota, if any, is available, the fishery for the shark
species group and, for non-sandbar LCS, region will remain closed, even
across fishing years, consistent with Sec. 635.28(b)(2).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 8, 2012.
Carrie D. Selberg,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-14458 Filed 6-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P