The National Marine Fisheries Service is considering the
inclusion of Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks in an amendment to the 2006
Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan that is
currently under development. This amendment process began in October
2011 to address the results of recent stock assessments for scalloped
hammerhead, dusky, sandbar, and blacknose sharks. A new stock
assessment is ongoing for Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks, and is
expected to be complete and available before the amendment process is
completed. Therefore, we are considering including Gulf of Mexico
blacktip sharks in the amendment to ensure any changes in the shark
fisheries as a result of recent stock assessments are considered at the
same time for public clarity and for administrative efficiency.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time, on
June 21, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2011-0229, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To
submit comments via the eRulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2011-0229 in the keyword search.
Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
Mail: Submit written comments to Peter Cooper, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please mark the outside of the
envelope ``Comments on including Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks in
Amendment 5 to the Consolidated HMS FMP.''
Fax: (301) 713-1917. Attn: Peter Cooper.
Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure
that the comments are received, documented, and considered by the
National Marine Fisheries Service. Comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the
comment period, may not be considered. All comments received are a part
of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the
sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. We will
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz or Peter Cooper
at (301) 427-8503, or online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or
http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/Index.jsp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. The 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery
Management Plan is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
The National Marine Fisheries Service published a notice of intent
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement as required by the
National Environmental Policy Act to amend the fishery management plan
on October 7, 2011(76 FR 62331). This amendment is designed to rebuild
and/or end overfishing on several shark stocks that were determined to
be overfished and/or have overfishing occurring. We anticipate
completing this amendment and any related documents in April 2013.
In December 2011, the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 29
stock assessment process for Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks began. This
process has included, among other things, a data and assessment
workshop along with two assessment webinars that have been open to the
public to attend. A third assessment webinar is expected in late May.
According to the schedule of events for the assessment, the assessment
should be completed in August 2012.
Therefore, we are expecting the final assessment results in early
Fall 2012. Because final results of the assessment would be available
in the Fall before the amendment is finalized in April 2013, we are
considering adding Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks to the amendment. We
believe that this addition would facilitate administrative efficiency
by optimizing our resources, and would allow us to address new
scientific information in the most timely manner. This addition would
also provide better clarity to and understanding by the public
regarding any possible impacts of the rulemaking on shark fisheries by
combining potential management measures resulting from recent shark
stock assessments into one rulemaking.
Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks are currently managed within the
non-sandbar large coastal shark (LCS) complex and are caught in
recreational and commercial fisheries targeting sharks. Commercial
regulations for blacktip sharks include, but are not limited to, a trip
limit of 33 non-sandbar LCS for directed shark permit holders and a
trip limit of 3 non-sandbar LCS for incidental shark permit holders.
Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks are part of the non-sandbar LCS annual
Gulf of Mexico quota of 390.5 mt dw, which is adjusted each year for
any overharvest from past fishing years. Recreational regulations for
blacktip sharks include, but are not limited to, retention limit of 1
shark per vessel per trip with a 4.5-ft (54-in) fork length minimum
size.
We may consider adjusting or implementing management measures for
Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks in this amendment based on the results
of the current stock assessment. These measures for Gulf of Mexico
blacktip sharks could include, but are not limited to, implementing a
specific commercial quota outside of the non-sandbar LCS quota,
modifying commercial trip limits, and adjusting recreational retention
limits.
We request comments regarding the addition of Gulf of Mexico
blacktip sharks to the amendment. These comments will help determine if
we should move forward with adding Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks to
the amendment.