Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Extension of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 092396B]

Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS extends the comment period for a proposed rule to adjust

quotas and bag limits in the Atlantic Shark Fishery that was published

in the Federal Register on December 20, 1996. The proposed rule would

establish quotas and bag limits and implement prohibitions and

requirements to reduce effective fishing mortality, facilitate

enforcement, and improve management.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed rule must be received on or

before February 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to William T. Hogarth,

Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1), Office of

Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-

West Highway, Room 14853, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: C. Michael Bailey or John Kelly, 301-

713-2347; fax 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Although NMFS previously extended the

comment period from January 21, 1997, to January 24, 1997 (62 FR 1872,

January 14, 1997), NMFS has received requests from the affected public

that more time is necessary to submit their comments on the Atlantic

shark fishery proposed rule (61 FR 67295, December 20, 1996). The

proposed rule, as published, would reduce commercial quotas and

recreational bag limits; establish a quota for small coastal sharks;

prohibit the directed commercial fishing for, and landing or sale of,

five species of sharks; establish a recreational tag-and-release only

fishery for white sharks; prohibit filleting of sharks at sea; and

restate the requirement for species-specific identification by all

owners or operators, dealers, and tournament operators of all sharks

landed.

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

Dated: 23 January 1997.

George H. Darcy,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97-2107 Filed 1-24-97; 10:00 am]

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