Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Shortfin Mako Shark Management Measures, 9255-9257 [2018-04430]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2018 / Proposed Rules information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, please contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ commenting-epa-dockets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Lancey, Air Permits, Toxics, and Indoor Programs Unit, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England Regional Office, 5 Post Office Square—Suite 100, (Mail code OEP05–2), Boston, MA 02109–3912, telephone number 617–918–1656, lancey.susan@epa.gov. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the Vermont Perchloroethylene Dry Cleaning Rule in place of the Dry Cleaning NESHAP for area sources as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. For additional information, see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules Section of this Federal Register. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: February 26, 2018. Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Regional Administrator, EPA New England. [FR Doc. 2018–04276 Filed 3–2–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:41 Mar 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635 RIN 0648–XF947 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Shortfin Mako Shark Management Measures National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS announces the availability of an Issues and Options document and its intent to prepare an EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyzing impacts of potential new management measures for shortfin mako sharks. Such measures would be implemented through rulemaking to address overfishing and to implement, as necessary and appropriate, measures adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) (ICCAT Recommendation 17–08) in response to the 2017 shortfin mako shark stock assessment. Based on that assessment, NMFS determined that North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks were overfished and experiencing overfishing in December 2017. Management alternatives considered would be to meet NMFS’s obligations related to ending overfishing and establishing a foundation for rebuilding the shortfin mako shark stock consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). Scoping is underway for this action, and NMFS requests comments on a preliminary Issues and Options document that presents range of commercial and recreational management measures, in both directed and incidental fisheries, including, but not limited to, commercial and recreational retention limits, quota levels, minimum size limits, gear modifications, and electronic reporting. DATES: Four scoping meetings and a conference call will be held from March through May 2018. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting and call dates and locations. Scoping comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time, on May 7, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Issues and Options document, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 9255 identified by NOAA–NMFS–2018–0011, by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20180011, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to Randy Blankinship, NMFS/SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Instructions: 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 by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and generally will be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Copies of the 2018 shortfin mako shark Issues and Options document and supporting documents are available from the HMS Management Division website at https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantichighly-migratory-species or constituents ´ can contact Guy DuBeck by phone at 301–427–8503 for hard copies. Copies of the 2017 ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) shortfin mako shark benchmark stock assessment can be found online at https://iccat.int/Documents/Meetings/ Docs/2017_SCRS_REP_ENG.pdf. ´ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guy DuBeck or Karyl Brewster-Geisz at 301– 427–8503. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background NMFS manages the Atlantic shark fisheries through the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan and its amendments as required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. ICCAT manages sharks caught in association with ICCAT species (tuna and tuna-like species) throughout the Atlantic and the adjacent seas, and NMFS implements ICCAT measures as necessary and appropriate under ATCA. The North Atlantic shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is a highly migratory species that ranges across the entire North Atlantic Ocean and is E:\FR\FM\05MRP1.SGM 05MRP1 9256 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2018 / Proposed Rules caught by numerous countries. These sharks are a small but valued component of U.S. recreational and commercial shark fisheries. In recent years, U.S. catch has represented only approximately 11 percent of the total catch of the species in the North Atlantic by all reporting countries. International measures are, therefore, critical to the species’ effective conservation and management. In August 2017, ICCAT’s SCRS conducted a new benchmark stock assessment on the North Atlantic shortfin mako stock. At its November 2017 annual meeting, ICCAT accepted this stock assessment and determined the stock to be overfished with overfishing occurring. On December 13, 2017, based on this assessment, NMFS issued a status determination finding the stock to be overfished and experiencing overfishing using domestic criteria. The assessment specifically indicated that biomass (B2015) is substantially less than the biomass at maximum sustainable yield (BMSY) for eight of the nine models used for the assessment (B2015/BMSY = 0.57–0.85). In the ninth model, spawning stock fecundity (SSF) was less than SSFMSY (SSF2015/SSFMSY = 0.95). Additionally, the assessment indicated that fishing mortality (F2015) was greater than FMSY (1.93–4.38), with a combined 90-percent probability from all models that the population is overfished with overfishing occurring. The 2017 assessment estimated that total North Atlantic shortfin mako catches across all ICCAT parties are currently between 3,600 and 4,750 mt per year, and that total catches would have to be at 1,000 mt or below (72–79 percent reductions) to prevent further population declines and that catches of 500 t or less currently are expected to stop overfishing and begin to rebuild the stock. The projections indicate that a total allowable catch of 0 mt would produce a greater than 50 percent probability of rebuilding the stock by the year 2040, which is approximately equal to one mean generation time. Research indicates that post-release survival rates of Atlantic shortfin mako sharks are high (70 percent); however, the assessment could not determine if requiring live releases alone would reduce landings sufficiently to end overfishing and rebuild the stock. ICCAT Recommendation 17–08 Based on the stock assessment information, ICCAT adopted new management measures for Atlantic shortfin mako (Recommendation 17–08) at its annual meeting in November 2017. The United States must implement those measures as necessary and appropriate under ATCA. These measures largely focus on maximizing live releases of Atlantic shortfin mako sharks, allowing retention only in certain limited circumstances, increasing minimum size limits, and improving data collection in ICCAT fisheries. In November 2018, ICCAT will review the catches from the first six months of 2018 and decide whether these measures should be modified. In 2019, the SCRS will evaluate the effectiveness of these measures in ending overfishing and beginning to rebuild the stock. SCRS will also provide rebuilding information that reflects rebuilding timeframes of at least two mean generation times. Also in 2019, ICCAT will establish a rebuilding program that will have a high probability of avoiding overfishing and rebuilding the stock to BMSY within a timeframe that takes into account the biology of the stock. 2018 Shortfin Mako Shark Interim Final Rule Consistent with these requirements, NMFS published an interim final rule using emergency Magnuson-Stevens Act authority to temporarily and immediately implement the following measures: (1) Commercial fishermen on vessels deploying pelagic longline gear must release all live shortfin mako sharks and can only retain a shortfin mako shark if it is dead at haulback, (2) commercial fishermen using gear other than pelagic longline commercial gear (e.g., bottom longline, gillnet, handgear, etc.) must release all shortfin mako sharks, whether they are dead or alive, and (3) recreational fishermen must release any shortfin mako sharks smaller than the minimum size of 83 inches fork length (FL). The interim final rule expires on August 29, 2018, and may be extended for an additional 186 days under the Magnuson-Stevens Act provisions. Request for Comments Both commercial and recreational fishing activities interact with and as allowable have retained shortfin mako sharks. Under the interim final rule, commercial fishermen with a limited access commercial shark permit may retain shortfin mako sharks caught on pelagic longline gear provided the shark was dead at haulback. Shortfin mako sharks caught on any other commercial gear type may not be retained. Similarly, under the interim final rule, vessels with an HMS Angling or Charter/ Headboat permit may retain one shortfin mako shark greater than the minimum size of 83 inches FL per vessel. NMFS anticipates changes to shark management as a result of the 2017 shortfin mako shark stock assessment through the rulemaking process and requests comments on potential future management options for this action. NMFS prepared an Issues and Options paper detailing potential management measures to meet its ATCA and Magnuson-Stevens Act obligations and to address overfishing of and begin rebuilding shortfin mako sharks. The Issues and Options paper is available online at the HMS website: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantichighly-migratory-species. Potential management measures in the Issues and Options paper include commercial and recreational fishing requirements. Four scoping meetings and a conference call will be held (see Table 2 for meeting times and locations) to provide the opportunity for public comment on potential shortfin mako shark management measures. These comments will be used to assist in the development of the upcoming amendment to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP. TABLE 1—TIME AND LOCATIONS OF THE FOUR SCOPING MEETINGS AND CONFERENCE CALL sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS Date Time Meeting location March 15, 2018 ......... 4–8 p.m ........... Panama City, FL ....... March 21, 2018 ......... 4–8 p.m ........... Manteo, NC ............... VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:41 Mar 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Meeting address National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408. Commissioners Meeting Room, Dare County Administration Building, 954 Marshall C. Collins Dr., Manteo, NC 27954. Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\05MRP1.SGM 05MRP1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2018 / Proposed Rules 9257 TABLE 1—TIME AND LOCATIONS OF THE FOUR SCOPING MEETINGS AND CONFERENCE CALL—Continued Time Meeting location Meeting address April 4, 2018 .............. 2–4 p.m ........... Conference Call ........ April 12, 2018 ............ 4–8 p.m ........... Manahawkin, NJ ........ April 19, 2018 ............ sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS Date 5–8 p.m ........... Gloucester, MA .......... To participate in the conference call, please call: (800) 779–3136. Passcode: 9421185. To participate in the webinar, RSVP at: https://noaaevents2.webex.com/ noaaevents2/onstage/g.php?MTID=e0e45a6863a2dec162452b2b6240ef 3e3, A confirmation email with webinar log-in information will be sent after RSVP is registered. Stafford Branch Public Library, 129 North Main St., Manahawkin, NJ 08050. National Marine Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930. The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at public scoping meetings and on conference calls to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of the scoping meetings and conference call, a representative of NMFS will explain the ground rules (e.g., all comments are to be directed to the Agency; attendees will be called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and attendees should not interrupt one another). The meeting locations will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other ´ auxiliary aids should be directed to Guy DuBeck at 301–427–8503, at least 7 days prior to the meeting. A NMFS representative will attempt to structure the meeting so that all attending members of the public will be able to comment if they so choose, regardless of the controversial nature of the subject matter. If attendees do not respect the ground rules they will be asked to leave the scoping meeting or conference call. Because the rulemakings overlap for some gear types, the public scoping meetings being held in Panama City, FL, Manteo, NC, and Manahawkin, NJ will be held in conjunction with public scoping meetings for pelagic longline bluefin tuna area-based and weak hook management. The shortfin mako shark management measure presentation will likely be given first unless polling of the audience indicates another approach is appropriate. After each presentation, public comment for that issue will be received. Meeting attendees interested in this issue are encouraged to show up at the beginning of the meeting to help determine the order of the presentations. The second presentation will not start any later than 6 p.m. In addition to the four scoping meetings and conference call, NMFS has requested to present the issues and options document to the five Atlantic VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:41 Mar 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 Regional Fishery Management Councils (the New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils) and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions during the public comment period. Please see the Councils’ and Commissions’ spring meeting notices for times and locations. Based on the 2017 shortfin mako shark stock assessment, implementation of new management measures via an amendment to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP is necessary to address overfishing and rebuild the stock. NMFS anticipates completing this amendment and any related documents in early 2019. Dated: February 28, 2018. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–04430 Filed 3–1–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 RIN 0648–XF559 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Essential Fish Habitat Amendments National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of availability of fishery management plan amendments; request for comments. AGENCY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted Amendment 115 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Aleutian Islands Management Area, Amendment 105 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, Amendment 49 to the FMP for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, Amendment 13 to the FMP for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ Off Alaska, and Amendment 2 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area, (collectively Amendments) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, these Amendments would revise the FMPs by updating the description and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH), and updating information on adverse impacts to EFH based on the best scientific information available. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMPs, and other applicable laws. DATES: Comments on the amendments must be submitted on or before May 4, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments, identified by NOAA–NMFS– 2017–0087, by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20170087, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public record, E:\FR\FM\05MRP1.SGM 05MRP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9255-9257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04430]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

RIN 0648-XF947


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Shortfin Mako Shark Management 
Measures

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS); request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of an Issues and Options 
document and its intent to prepare an EIS under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyzing impacts of potential new 
management measures for shortfin mako sharks. Such measures would be 
implemented through rulemaking to address overfishing and to implement, 
as necessary and appropriate, measures adopted by the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) (ICCAT 
Recommendation 17-08) in response to the 2017 shortfin mako shark stock 
assessment. Based on that assessment, NMFS determined that North 
Atlantic shortfin mako sharks were overfished and experiencing 
overfishing in December 2017. Management alternatives considered would 
be to meet NMFS's obligations related to ending overfishing and 
establishing a foundation for rebuilding the shortfin mako shark stock 
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention 
Act (ATCA). Scoping is underway for this action, and NMFS requests 
comments on a preliminary Issues and Options document that presents 
range of commercial and recreational management measures, in both 
directed and incidental fisheries, including, but not limited to, 
commercial and recreational retention limits, quota levels, minimum 
size limits, gear modifications, and electronic reporting.

DATES: Four scoping meetings and a conference call will be held from 
March through May 2018. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting and 
call dates and locations. Scoping comments must be received no later 
than 5 p.m., local time, on May 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Issues and Options document, 
identified by NOAA-NMFS-2018-0011, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0011, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Randy Blankinship, NMFS/
SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC3, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Instructions: 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 by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and generally will be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Copies of the 2018 shortfin mako shark Issues and Options document 
and supporting documents are available from the HMS Management Division 
website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species or constituents can contact Gu[yacute] DuBeck by 
phone at 301-427-8503 for hard copies. Copies of the 2017 ICCAT 
Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) shortfin mako 
shark benchmark stock assessment can be found online at https://iccat.int/Documents/Meetings/Docs/2017_SCRS_REP_ENG.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gu[yacute] DuBeck or Karyl Brewster-
Geisz at 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    NMFS manages the Atlantic shark fisheries through the 2006 
Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan and its amendments as 
required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. ICCAT manages sharks caught in 
association with ICCAT species (tuna and tuna-like species) throughout 
the Atlantic and the adjacent seas, and NMFS implements ICCAT measures 
as necessary and appropriate under ATCA.
    The North Atlantic shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is a 
highly migratory species that ranges across the entire North Atlantic 
Ocean and is

[[Page 9256]]

caught by numerous countries. These sharks are a small but valued 
component of U.S. recreational and commercial shark fisheries. In 
recent years, U.S. catch has represented only approximately 11 percent 
of the total catch of the species in the North Atlantic by all 
reporting countries. International measures are, therefore, critical to 
the species' effective conservation and management.
    In August 2017, ICCAT's SCRS conducted a new benchmark stock 
assessment on the North Atlantic shortfin mako stock. At its November 
2017 annual meeting, ICCAT accepted this stock assessment and 
determined the stock to be overfished with overfishing occurring. On 
December 13, 2017, based on this assessment, NMFS issued a status 
determination finding the stock to be overfished and experiencing 
overfishing using domestic criteria. The assessment specifically 
indicated that biomass (B2015) is substantially less than 
the biomass at maximum sustainable yield (BMSY) for eight of 
the nine models used for the assessment (B2015/
BMSY = 0.57-0.85). In the ninth model, spawning stock 
fecundity (SSF) was less than SSFMSY (SSF2015/
SSFMSY = 0.95). Additionally, the assessment indicated that 
fishing mortality (F2015) was greater than FMSY 
(1.93-4.38), with a combined 90-percent probability from all models 
that the population is overfished with overfishing occurring.
    The 2017 assessment estimated that total North Atlantic shortfin 
mako catches across all ICCAT parties are currently between 3,600 and 
4,750 mt per year, and that total catches would have to be at 1,000 mt 
or below (72-79 percent reductions) to prevent further population 
declines and that catches of 500 t or less currently are expected to 
stop overfishing and begin to rebuild the stock. The projections 
indicate that a total allowable catch of 0 mt would produce a greater 
than 50 percent probability of rebuilding the stock by the year 2040, 
which is approximately equal to one mean generation time. Research 
indicates that post-release survival rates of Atlantic shortfin mako 
sharks are high (70 percent); however, the assessment could not 
determine if requiring live releases alone would reduce landings 
sufficiently to end overfishing and rebuild the stock.

ICCAT Recommendation 17-08

    Based on the stock assessment information, ICCAT adopted new 
management measures for Atlantic shortfin mako (Recommendation 17-08) 
at its annual meeting in November 2017. The United States must 
implement those measures as necessary and appropriate under ATCA. These 
measures largely focus on maximizing live releases of Atlantic shortfin 
mako sharks, allowing retention only in certain limited circumstances, 
increasing minimum size limits, and improving data collection in ICCAT 
fisheries. In November 2018, ICCAT will review the catches from the 
first six months of 2018 and decide whether these measures should be 
modified. In 2019, the SCRS will evaluate the effectiveness of these 
measures in ending overfishing and beginning to rebuild the stock. SCRS 
will also provide rebuilding information that reflects rebuilding 
timeframes of at least two mean generation times. Also in 2019, ICCAT 
will establish a rebuilding program that will have a high probability 
of avoiding overfishing and rebuilding the stock to BMSY 
within a timeframe that takes into account the biology of the stock.

2018 Shortfin Mako Shark Interim Final Rule

    Consistent with these requirements, NMFS published an interim final 
rule using emergency Magnuson-Stevens Act authority to temporarily and 
immediately implement the following measures: (1) Commercial fishermen 
on vessels deploying pelagic longline gear must release all live 
shortfin mako sharks and can only retain a shortfin mako shark if it is 
dead at haulback, (2) commercial fishermen using gear other than 
pelagic longline commercial gear (e.g., bottom longline, gillnet, 
handgear, etc.) must release all shortfin mako sharks, whether they are 
dead or alive, and (3) recreational fishermen must release any shortfin 
mako sharks smaller than the minimum size of 83 inches fork length 
(FL). The interim final rule expires on August 29, 2018, and may be 
extended for an additional 186 days under the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
provisions.

Request for Comments

    Both commercial and recreational fishing activities interact with 
and as allowable have retained shortfin mako sharks. Under the interim 
final rule, commercial fishermen with a limited access commercial shark 
permit may retain shortfin mako sharks caught on pelagic longline gear 
provided the shark was dead at haulback. Shortfin mako sharks caught on 
any other commercial gear type may not be retained. Similarly, under 
the interim final rule, vessels with an HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat 
permit may retain one shortfin mako shark greater than the minimum size 
of 83 inches FL per vessel.
    NMFS anticipates changes to shark management as a result of the 
2017 shortfin mako shark stock assessment through the rulemaking 
process and requests comments on potential future management options 
for this action. NMFS prepared an Issues and Options paper detailing 
potential management measures to meet its ATCA and Magnuson-Stevens Act 
obligations and to address overfishing of and begin rebuilding shortfin 
mako sharks. The Issues and Options paper is available online at the 
HMS website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species. Potential management measures in the Issues and 
Options paper include commercial and recreational fishing requirements. 
Four scoping meetings and a conference call will be held (see Table 2 
for meeting times and locations) to provide the opportunity for public 
comment on potential shortfin mako shark management measures. These 
comments will be used to assist in the development of the upcoming 
amendment to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP.

                  Table 1--Time and Locations of the Four Scoping Meetings and Conference Call
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date                          Time                   Meeting location            Meeting address
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 15, 2018..................  4-8 p.m................  Panama City, FL................  National Marine
                                                                                             Fisheries Service,
                                                                                            Southeast Fisheries
                                                                                             Science Center,
                                                                                            3500 Delwood Beach
                                                                                             Road,
                                                                                            Panama City, FL
                                                                                             32408.
March 21, 2018..................  4-8 p.m................  Manteo, NC.....................  Commissioners
                                                                                             Meeting Room,
                                                                                            Dare County
                                                                                             Administration
                                                                                             Building,
                                                                                            954 Marshall C.
                                                                                             Collins Dr.,
                                                                                            Manteo, NC 27954.

[[Page 9257]]

 
April 4, 2018...................  2-4 p.m................  Conference Call................  To participate in
                                                                                             the conference
                                                                                             call, please call:
                                                                                             (800) 779-3136.
                                                                                             Passcode: 9421185.
                                                                                            To participate in
                                                                                             the webinar, RSVP
                                                                                             at: https://noaaevents2.webex.com/noaaevents2/onstage/g.php?MTID=e0e45a6863a2dec162452b2b6240ef3e3 0ef3e3, A
                                                                                             confirmation email
                                                                                             with webinar log-in
                                                                                             information will be
                                                                                             sent after RSVP is
                                                                                             registered.
April 12, 2018..................  4-8 p.m................  Manahawkin, NJ.................  Stafford Branch
                                                                                             Public Library,
                                                                                            129 North Main St.,
                                                                                            Manahawkin, NJ
                                                                                             08050.
April 19, 2018..................  5-8 p.m................  Gloucester, MA.................  National Marine
                                                                                             Fisheries Service,
                                                                                            Greater Atlantic
                                                                                             Regional Office,
                                                                                            55 Great Republic
                                                                                             Dr.,
                                                                                            Gloucester, MA
                                                                                             01930.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at public 
scoping meetings and on conference calls to conduct themselves 
appropriately. At the beginning of the scoping meetings and conference 
call, a representative of NMFS will explain the ground rules (e.g., all 
comments are to be directed to the Agency; attendees will be called to 
give their comments in the order in which they registered to speak; 
each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and attendees 
should not interrupt one another). The meeting locations will be 
physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign 
language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to 
Gu[yacute] DuBeck at 301-427-8503, at least 7 days prior to the 
meeting. A NMFS representative will attempt to structure the meeting so 
that all attending members of the public will be able to comment if 
they so choose, regardless of the controversial nature of the subject 
matter. If attendees do not respect the ground rules they will be asked 
to leave the scoping meeting or conference call.
    Because the rulemakings overlap for some gear types, the public 
scoping meetings being held in Panama City, FL, Manteo, NC, and 
Manahawkin, NJ will be held in conjunction with public scoping meetings 
for pelagic longline bluefin tuna area-based and weak hook management. 
The shortfin mako shark management measure presentation will likely be 
given first unless polling of the audience indicates another approach 
is appropriate. After each presentation, public comment for that issue 
will be received. Meeting attendees interested in this issue are 
encouraged to show up at the beginning of the meeting to help determine 
the order of the presentations. The second presentation will not start 
any later than 6 p.m.
    In addition to the four scoping meetings and conference call, NMFS 
has requested to present the issues and options document to the five 
Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Councils (the New England, Mid-
Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Councils) and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions 
during the public comment period. Please see the Councils' and 
Commissions' spring meeting notices for times and locations.
    Based on the 2017 shortfin mako shark stock assessment, 
implementation of new management measures via an amendment to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP is necessary to address overfishing and rebuild 
the stock. NMFS anticipates completing this amendment and any related 
documents in early 2019.

    Dated: February 28, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-04430 Filed 3-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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