2010 shark season proposed rule

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species News

NMFS announces the availability of the Proposed Rule for the 2010 Atlantic Shark Season. Please see the attached Federal Register Notice and email notice for information. The comment period for this action closes on November 27, 2009. You may also view these documents along with the Draft Environmental Assessment on the HMS Management Division at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/breaking_news.htm or contact Guy DuBeck at 301-713-2347.

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10-28-2009_2010_Shark_Season_Rule_Email_Notice.pdf (191KB); 10-28-2009_Propose_Rule_for_2010_Shark_Season_74_FR_5552 6.pdf (195KB)

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NMFS Announces a Proposed Rule to Establish the 2010 Commercial Quotas and Opening Dates for the Atlantic Shark Fisheries
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a proposed rule that would establish
quota levels and opening dates for the 2010 Atlantic commercial shark fisheries.
NMFS is proposing to adjust the annual commercial quotas due to overharvests in 2008 and 2009. The proposed 2010 quotas by species and species group are summarized in Table 1. At this time, while there are some individual species that are not overfished and do not have overfishing occurring (e.g. blacktip sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, and finetooth sharks), the management complexes all have individual shark species that have been determined to be either overfished, have overfishing occurring, or have an unknown stock status. Therefore, any underharvests from the 2009 fishing season for the different shark species and/or complexes will not be applied to the 2010 quotas. In the proposed rule, the landings data were reported to NMFS as of September 15,2009. The 2010 proposed quotas for the respective shark complexes/species are subject to change in the final rule for this action, based on dealer reports received as of October 30, 2009. All dealer reports that are received by NMFS after that date will be used to adjust the 2011 quotas, as appropriate.
NMFS is considering several alternatives that may impact the opening dates for 2010 shark fishing season. NMFS proposes to open the pelagic shark and shark research fisheries on or about January 1,2010 depending on when this proposed rule is finalized and effective. NMFS also proposes to keep the SCS fishery closed until the effective date of the final rule for Amendment 3 to the Consolidated HMS FMP. This delayed opening would allow the SCS fishery to open under any new quotas established in Amendment 3. Also, NMFS proposes to open the non-sandbar LCS fishery in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic regions on July 15, 2010. Delaying the start of the 2010 non-sandbar LCS fishery in both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions is intended to provide equitable fishing opportunities among shark fishery participants in all states to catch the non-sandbar LCS quota.
NMFS will hold several public hearings for this rulemaking along the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico in November 2009 (See Table 2). During these hearings, NMFS will receive public feedback on the proposed management measures.
a P bI' u e IS
T bi e 2 IC heanng sc h d 1 e u e fior th 2010 Sh ark F' h'mg Season

Date

Time

Hearing Location

Hearing Address

I

November 16,2009

5:00 -8:00 p.m.

Manteo Town Hall

407 Budleigh Street Manteo, NC 27954

November 18,2009

5:00 -8:00 p.m.

Belle Chasse Auditorium

8398 HWY. 23 Belle Chasse, LA 70037

November 23,2009

5:00 -8:00 p.m.

Jupiter Branch Library

705 Military Trail Jupiter, FL 33458