Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Atlantic Shark Fisheries; Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 010998C]

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Atlantic Shark Fisheries;

Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs)

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

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Applications for EFPs; deadline for receipt of EFP

applications; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of three applications for EFPs. If

granted, these EFPs would authorize, over a period of 1 year,

collections for public display of a limited number of sharks from the

large coastal and prohibited species groups from Federal waters in the

Atlantic Ocean. NMFS also announces the deadline for receipt of

exempted fishing permit applications for the 1998 fishing year.

DATES: Written comments on the applications must be received on or

before February 13, 1998. Applications for EFPs must be received on or

before April 29, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Rebecca Lent, Chief, Highly Migratory

Species Management Division (F/SF1), NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway,

Silver Spring, MD 20910. The applications and related documents and

copies of the regulations under which exempted fishing permits are

subject may also be requested from this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin or Margo Schulze,

301-713-2347; fax: 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These EFPs are requested under the authority

of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16

U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and regulations at 50 CFR 600.745 concerning

scientific research activity, exempted fishing, and exempted

educational activity.

Dynasty Marine Associates, Inc., in Marathon, FL, intends to

collect four nurse sharks, two lemon sharks, three sandbar sharks, and

four sand tiger sharks for public display by using a single hook and

line as well as a short longline not consisting of more than 50 hooks.

Fishing will occur in the Florida Bay and in the Atlantic Ocean off the

middle Florida Keys area, in New Jersey, and in Maryland. Issuance of

an EFP is necessary, according to the applicant, because the commercial

season for large coastal sharks is closed for long periods of time and

because possession of sand tiger sharks is prohibited. The applicant

also requested an EFP to collect one sawfish; however, as NMFS does not

regulate sawfish at this time, no EFP is necessary to collect this

species in Federal waters.

Charles Jamison, in Summerland Key, FL, intends to collect an

unspecified number of nurse and lemon sharks for schools and public

display by using a short fishing line or cast net, or by hand in the

Florida Keys. The applicant requested the issuance of an EFP to collect

nurse and lemon sharks because the commercial season for large coastal

sharks is closed for long periods of time. The applicant also requested

an EFP to collect bonnethead sharks; however, as the commercial season

for small coastal sharks has not closed to date, this species may be

possessed legally by

[[Page 4432]]

obtaining a Federal commercial shark permit and an EFP is not required.

Carolina Sharks, in Georgetown, SC, intends to collect an

unspecified number of large coastal sharks, including bull, sandbar,

blacktip, and nurse sharks, as well as an unspecified number of sand

tiger sharks for public display. The applicant intends to collect

specimens by using hand rod and reels, longlines no greater than 2.4

kilometers, anchor hooks, and gillnets of unspecified length with 10-33

centimeter stretch mesh. Fishing will occur from February through

October in Federal waters off New York, North Carolina, South Carolina,

Georgia, and Florida, as well as in the Chesapeake Bay. Issuance of an

EFP is necessary, according to the applicant, because the commercial

season for large coastal sharks is closed for long periods of time and

because possession of sand tiger sharks is prohibited.

The proposed collections for public display involve activities

otherwise prohibited by regulations implementing the Fishery Management

Plan for Sharks of the Atlantic Ocean. The applicants require

authorization to fish for and to possess large coastal sharks outside

the Federal commercial seasons and to fish for and to possess

prohibited species.

Based on a preliminary review, NMFS finds that these applications

warrant further consideration. A final decision on issuance of EFPs

will depend on the submission of all required information and on NMFS'

review of public comments received on the applications, conclusions of

any environmental analyses conducted pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act, and any consultations with any appropriate

Regional Fishery Management Councils, states, or Federal agencies.

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

Dated: January 22, 1998.

Bruce Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-2255 Filed 1-28-98; 8:45 am]

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