Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Limited Access Program; Extension of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

50 CFR Part 678

[I.D. 121196A]

Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Limited Access Program; Extension of

Comment Period

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

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS extends the comment period for a proposed rule and

Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Sharks (FMP) to

implement the limited access system. The proposed rule was published in

the Federal Register on December 27, 1996. The proposed rule would

establish a two-tiered permit system for the Atlantic shark commercial

fishery, set forth eligibility criteria for these permits based on

historical participation, and limit the transferability of such

permits.

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

before April 28, 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: John Kelly or Margo Schulze at 301-

713-2347; fax 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS has received requests from the affected

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

Atlantic shark fishery proposed rule and FMP amendment to implement

limited access (61 FR 68202, December 27, 1996). The extension in

comment period will ensure that this proposed rule can be examined in

conjunction with the proposed rule for limited access in the swordfish

fishery, which is being published on the same date as this notice. The

public has informed NMFS that it is essential to examine both proposals

simultaneously in order to determine the net effect of the two proposed

limited access systems.

The proposed rule, as published, would establish a two-tiered

permit system for the Atlantic shark commercial fishery, set forth

eligibility criteria for these permits based on historical

participation, and limit the transferability of such permits. NMFS has

determined that the Atlantic shark fishery is overfished and

overcapitalized, with an excessive number of permitted vessels relative

to the harvest level prescribed by the recovery plan.

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

Dated: February 19, 1997.

Gary Matlock,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries

Service.

[FR Doc. 97-4656 Filed 2-20-97; 5:05 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F