Stock Status Determination for Atlantic Dusky Sharks, 69043 [2016-24077]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Notices
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[FR Doc. 2016–24076 Filed 10–4–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
2016 Dusky Shark Stock Assessment
Update Results
RIN 0648–XE882
Stock Status Determination for Atlantic
Dusky Sharks
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This action serves as a notice
that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary), has determined
that Atlantic dusky sharks
(Carcharhinus obscurus) are still
overfished and subject to overfishing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tobey Curtis by phone at 978–281–9273
or Karyl Brewster-Geisz by phone at
301–427–8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
Background
Atlantic dusky sharks are managed
under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) and its
amendments. Dusky sharks have been a
prohibited species since 2000 and may
not be landed or retained in any
fisheries. However, multiple
commercial and recreational fisheries
sometimes interact with the species as
bycatch during the course of normal
operations. The 2016 assessment was an
update to the 2011 stock assessment for
dusky sharks. Thus, no new
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:15 Oct 04, 2016
Jkt 241001
methodology was introduced, though all
model inputs were updated with more
recent data (i.e. effort, and 2010–2015
for all the indices of relative abundance,
which included observer and survey
data).
Dusky sharks were first assessed in
2006, and all model results indicated
that the stock had been heavily
exploited, with depletion estimates
between 62 and 80 percent from virgin
biomass, and a rebuilding timeframe of
100 to 400 years. Dusky sharks were
again assessed in 2011 through the
Southeast Data, Assessment, and
Review (SEDAR) process in SEDAR 21.
The SEDAR 21 dusky shark assessment
indicated that the species was
overfished (spawning stock biomass
[SSB]2009/SSBMSY = 0.41–0.50) and was
experiencing overfishing (F2009/FMSY =
1.39–4.35).
All documents and information
regarding the 2010 SEDAR 21
benchmark assessment and 2016 update
can be found on the SEDAR Web page
at https://sedarweb.org/sedar-21.
The 2016 dusky shark stock
assessment update used an agestructured catch-free production model
since the species’ prohibited status
made the use of catch as an input
largely impractical.
In the 2011 SEDAR 21 assessment, the
reviewers determined that there were
five scenarios analyzed in the
assessment that were plausible. Thus, in
the 2016 update, the five scenarios
reflective of plausible states of nature
were analyzed and projections for each
scenario were conducted. The five
scenarios were: (1) The base scenario;
(2) a high natural mortality scenario; (3)
a U-shaped natural mortality curve
allowing senescence; (4) a high
productivity scenario; and (5) a low
productivity scenario. Under all
scenarios, the 2016 update found the
stock is still overfished (spawning stock
fecundity [SSF]2015/SSFMSST = 0.44–
0.69). Under all scenarios, the 2016
update found the stock was also still
subject to overfishing (F2015/FMSY =
1.08–2.92).
The assessment was peer reviewed by
two reviewers. Overall, the peer
reviewers determined the stock
assessment to be based on the best
scientific information available. Based
on these results, NMFS has determined
that the status of dusky sharks is
overfished and overfishing is occurring.
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Fmt 4703
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69043
Dated: September 30, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–24077 Filed 10–4–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE929
Fisheries of the South Atlantic;
Southeast Data, Assessment, and
Review (SEDAR); Stock Identification
Work Group Post-Meeting Webinar for
Atlantic Blueline Tilefish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Atlantic stock(s) of blueline
tilefish will be assessed through SEDAR
50. This webinar meeting is being held
to provide representatives of the
Scientific and Statistical Committees
(SSC) of the Gulf of Mexico, South
Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Councils an opportunity to
review blueline tilefish stock
identification recommendations and
provide guidance on addressing overlap
between the biological stock and
Council management boundaries.
DATES: The SEDAR 50 Stock
Identification SSC Webinar Review will
be held on Friday, October 28, 2016,
from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., to view the
agenda see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: The Webinar is open to the
public. Those interested in participating
should contact Julia Byrd at SEDAR (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to
request an invitation providing Webinar
access information. Please request
Webinar invitations at least 24 hours in
advance of the Webinar.
SEDAR Address: South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, 4055
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N.
Charleston, SC 29405 or at their Web
site, at www.sedarweb.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia
Byrd, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber
Place Drive, Suite 201, North
Charleston, SC 29405; phone (843) 571–
4366; email: julia.byrd@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Agenda
The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic,
and Caribbean Fishery Management
Councils, in conjunction with NOAA
E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM
05OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 69043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24077]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE882
Stock Status Determination for Atlantic Dusky Sharks
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that Atlantic dusky
sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) are still overfished and subject to
overfishing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tobey Curtis by phone at 978-281-9273
or Karyl Brewster-Geisz by phone at 301-427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Atlantic dusky sharks are managed under the 2006 Consolidated
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
and its amendments. Dusky sharks have been a prohibited species since
2000 and may not be landed or retained in any fisheries. However,
multiple commercial and recreational fisheries sometimes interact with
the species as bycatch during the course of normal operations. The 2016
assessment was an update to the 2011 stock assessment for dusky sharks.
Thus, no new methodology was introduced, though all model inputs were
updated with more recent data (i.e. effort, and 2010-2015 for all the
indices of relative abundance, which included observer and survey
data).
Dusky sharks were first assessed in 2006, and all model results
indicated that the stock had been heavily exploited, with depletion
estimates between 62 and 80 percent from virgin biomass, and a
rebuilding timeframe of 100 to 400 years. Dusky sharks were again
assessed in 2011 through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review
(SEDAR) process in SEDAR 21. The SEDAR 21 dusky shark assessment
indicated that the species was overfished (spawning stock biomass
[SSB]2009/SSBMSY = 0.41-0.50) and was
experiencing overfishing (F2009/FMSY = 1.39-
4.35).
All documents and information regarding the 2010 SEDAR 21 benchmark
assessment and 2016 update can be found on the SEDAR Web page at https://sedarweb.org/sedar-21.
2016 Dusky Shark Stock Assessment Update Results
The 2016 dusky shark stock assessment update used an age-structured
catch-free production model since the species' prohibited status made
the use of catch as an input largely impractical.
In the 2011 SEDAR 21 assessment, the reviewers determined that
there were five scenarios analyzed in the assessment that were
plausible. Thus, in the 2016 update, the five scenarios reflective of
plausible states of nature were analyzed and projections for each
scenario were conducted. The five scenarios were: (1) The base
scenario; (2) a high natural mortality scenario; (3) a U-shaped natural
mortality curve allowing senescence; (4) a high productivity scenario;
and (5) a low productivity scenario. Under all scenarios, the 2016
update found the stock is still overfished (spawning stock fecundity
[SSF]2015/SSFMSST = 0.44-0.69). Under all
scenarios, the 2016 update found the stock was also still subject to
overfishing (F2015/FMSY = 1.08-2.92).
The assessment was peer reviewed by two reviewers. Overall, the
peer reviewers determined the stock assessment to be based on the best
scientific information available. Based on these results, NMFS has
determined that the status of dusky sharks is overfished and
overfishing is occurring.
Dated: September 30, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-24077 Filed 10-4-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
