NOAA Fisheries Announces Regional Quota Adjustments for the 2005 Atlantic Commercial Shark Fishery NOAA Fisheries is proposing to adjust the regional and trimester quotas for large coastal sharks and small coastal sharks based on updated landings information for the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and North Atlantic regions. The commercial shark fishery will open in all regions on January 1, 2005. Based on proposed changes to the quotas, NOAA Fisheries estimates the Gulf of Mexico large coastal shark fishery will close on March 15, the South Atlantic large coastal shark fishery will close on February 15, and the North Atlantic large coastal shark fishery will close on April 30. Closure dates for small coastal sharks and pelagic sharks will be determined, as necessary. The comment period for this proposed rule closes on October 18, 2004. Written comments may be e-mailed to:
07*****@no**.gov
. NOAA Fisheries also will hold three public hearing to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding these proposed amendments. The public hearings originally scheduled for Sept. 28, 29, and 30 are rescheduled for October 5 in Madeira Beach, FL, October 6 in Cocoa Beach, FL, and October 7 in Manteo, NC. For locations and more information on the proposed quota changes, visit: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms or contact Chris Rilling or Karyl Brewster-Geisz at 301-713-2347.
NOAA Fisheries Announces Regional Quota Adjustments for the 2005 Atlantic Commercial Shark Fishery
NOAA Fisheries is proposing to adjust the regional and trimester quotas for large coastal sharks and small coastal sharks based on updated landings information for the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and North Atlantic regions.
The commercial shark fishery will open in all regions on January 1, 2005. Based on proposed changes to the quotas, NOAA Fisheries estimates the Gulf of Mexico large coastal shark fishery will close on March 15, the South Atlantic large coastal shark fishery will close on February 15, and the North Atlantic large coastal shark fishery will close on April 30. Closure dates for small coastal sharks and pelagic sharks will be determined, as necessary.
The comment period for this proposed rule closes on October 18, 2004. Written comments may be e-mailed to:
07*****@no**.gov
. NOAA Fisheries also will hold three public hearing to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding these proposed amendments. The public hearings originally scheduled for Sept. 28, 29, and 30 are rescheduled for October 5 in Madeira Beach, FL, October 6 in Cocoa Beach, FL, and October 7 in Manteo, NC. For locations and more information on the proposed quota changes, visit: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms or contact Chris Rilling or Karyl Brewster-Geisz at 301-713-2347.