Stock Assessment of Dusky Shark in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, 30123 [E6-8049]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 101 / Thursday, May 25, 2006 / Notices directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 3 days prior to the meetings. Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change. Dated: May 19, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6–8001 Filed 5–24–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 051706A] Stock Assessment of Dusky Shark in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability. cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of a stock assessment report on dusky sharks in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, prepared by the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center. The stock assessment summarizes the relevant biological data, discusses the fisheries affecting the species, and details the data and methods used to assess stock status. Some recommendations were also made regarding future avenues of research and issues to consider in future stock assessments. ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the report should be sent to Sarah McTee, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or may be sent via facsimile (fax) to 301–713–1917 or phone 301–713– 2347. Electronic copies of the stock assessment may also be obtained on the internet at: https:// www.sefscpanamalab.noaa.gov/shark/ pdf/DuskylSharklAssessment.zip. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the methods, data, and results of the stock assessment, contact Enric Cortes by phone at (850) 234–6541 or by fax at (850) 235–3559. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) is one of 19 species for which retention is prohibited under the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks implemented and amended in 1999 and 2003, respectively. Due to potential VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:42 May 24, 2006 Jkt 208001 identification problems and catch data originating from a variety of sources, the magnitude of dusky shark catch has been difficult to ascertain. The dusky shark has not previously been individually assessed; however, low population growth rates, coupled with declines in both the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and size of individuals landed since the early 1990s, created concern that the dusky shark was being heavily exploited. Using recent biological data on the growth and reproduction of dusky sharks, landing estimates from recreational and commercial fisheries, commercial bycatch estimates, four fishery-dependent and one fisheryindependent relative abundance indices, a stock assessment was recently completed for the dusky shark. Results from the models used were very similar with all models showing the stock has been heavily exploited. The baseline analyses using surplus production models indicate that current depletions are over 80 percent of virgin biomass. The age-structured model provided the most optimistic results and indicated that the dusky shark population has been depleted by 62 to 80 percent of the unfished virgin biomass. The stock assessment summarizes the relevant biological data, discusses the fisheries affecting the species, and details the data and methods used to assess stock status. Some recommendations were also made regarding future avenues of research and issues to consider in future stock assessments. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq. Dated: May 22, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6–8049 Filed 5–24–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Record of Decision for the Clinical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP) Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (FPEIS) U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC), Department of the Army, DoD. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Army, as executive agent for the CBDP, announces that a Record of Decision (ROD) has been signed documenting the decision to execute an integrated CBDP designed to PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30123 protect our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen form the evolving chemical and biological (CB) threats they may encounter on the battlefield. The CBDP does not pursue effective CB weapon capability and its execution is in full compliance with both international and domestic law including, but not limited to, the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction and the Biological Weapons Antiterrorism Act. The FPEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with the execution of the DoD CBDP. The No Action Alternative, continuation of current CBDP operations, was also evaluated. No other alternatives were identified during the public scoping process. Neither the selected action nor the No Action Alternative would result in the occurrence of significant adverse environmental impacts. ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the ROD may be made to Ms. JoLane Souris, Command Environmental Coordinator, U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, Office of Surety, Safety, and Environmental, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702–5012 or by visiting the CBDP PEIS Web site at https://chembioeis.detrick.army.mil. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. JoLane Souris, by calling (301) 619– 2004; or by fax at (301) 619–6627. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior to 2003, the mission of the DoD CBDP was to provide CB defense capabilities to allow the military forces of the United States to survive and successfully complete their operational missions in battle space environments contaminated with CB warfare agents. Now this mission has expanded to cover military capability to operate in the face of threats in homeland security missions, as well as warfighter missions. If our military forces are not fully and adequately prepared to meet these threats, the consequences could be devastating. The CBDP to support this mission comprises research, development, and acquisition activities. Each of the Military Services, the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense, and the Defense Advanced Researched Projects Agency conduct CBDP activities. Some of these CBDP activities necessarily involve the use of hazardous chemicals or infectious disease agents for research, development, and production purposes. The controls on and the potential environmental consequences of such use for both the proposed action and the alternative were primary focuses of the E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM 25MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 30123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8049]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 051706A]


Stock Assessment of Dusky Shark in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of a stock assessment report 
on dusky sharks in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, prepared by the 
NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center. The stock assessment 
summarizes the relevant biological data, discusses the fisheries 
affecting the species, and details the data and methods used to assess 
stock status. Some recommendations were also made regarding future 
avenues of research and issues to consider in future stock assessments.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the report should be sent to Sarah 
McTee, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1), National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910, or may be sent via facsimile (fax) to 301-713-1917 or phone 
301-713-2347. Electronic copies of the stock assessment may also be 
obtained on the internet at: https://www.sefscpanamalab.noaa.gov/shark/
pdf/Dusky_Shark_Assessment.zip.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the methods, data, 
and results of the stock assessment, contact Enric Cortes by phone at 
(850) 234-6541 or by fax at (850) 235-3559.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) is 
one of 19 species for which retention is prohibited under the Fishery 
Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks implemented 
and amended in 1999 and 2003, respectively. Due to potential 
identification problems and catch data originating from a variety of 
sources, the magnitude of dusky shark catch has been difficult to 
ascertain. The dusky shark has not previously been individually 
assessed; however, low population growth rates, coupled with declines 
in both the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and size of individuals landed 
since the early 1990s, created concern that the dusky shark was being 
heavily exploited.
    Using recent biological data on the growth and reproduction of 
dusky sharks, landing estimates from recreational and commercial 
fisheries, commercial bycatch estimates, four fishery-dependent and one 
fishery-independent relative abundance indices, a stock assessment was 
recently completed for the dusky shark. Results from the models used 
were very similar with all models showing the stock has been heavily 
exploited. The baseline analyses using surplus production models 
indicate that current depletions are over 80 percent of virgin biomass. 
The age-structured model provided the most optimistic results and 
indicated that the dusky shark population has been depleted by 62 to 80 
percent of the unfished virgin biomass. The stock assessment summarizes 
the relevant biological data, discusses the fisheries affecting the 
species, and details the data and methods used to assess stock status. 
Some recommendations were also made regarding future avenues of 
research and issues to consider in future stock assessments.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 22, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-8049 Filed 5-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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