[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23794-23795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10328]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RIN 0648-XA196]
Stock Status Determination for Atlantic Highly Migratory
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that overfishing is
occurring on an Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) scalloped
hammerhead shark, and the stock is overfished.
NMFS notifies the public whenever it determines that: overfishing
is occurring, a stock is overfished, or a stock is approaching an
overfished condition.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cooper at 301-713-2347 or Jackie
Wilson at 240-338-3936.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For an Atlantic HMS that has been determined
to be overfished or approaching an overfished condition, NMFS, on
behalf of the Secretary, must take action to end or prevent overfishing
in the fishery and to implement conservation and management measures to
rebuild overfished stocks within 2 years of making this determination.
This action must include implementing a rebuilding plan, through an FMP
amendment or regulations, which ends overfishing immediately and
provides for rebuilding the fishery in accordance with 16 U.S.C.
1854(e)(3)-(4) as implemented by 50 CFR 600.310(j)(2)(ii). When
developing rebuilding plans, in addition to rebuilding the fishery
within the shortest time possible in accordance with 16 U.S.C.
1854(e)(4) and 50 CFR 600.310(j)(3), NMFS must ensure that such actions
address the requirements to amend the FMP for each affected stock or
stock complex to establish a mechanism for specifying and actually
specify Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and Accountability Measures (AMs) to
prevent overfishing in accordance with
[[Page 23795]]
16 U.S.C. 1853(a)(15) and 50 CFR 600.310(j)(2)(i).
In October 2009, Hayes et al. (2009) published in the North
American Journal of Fisheries Management a stock assessment of the
Atlantic population of scalloped hammerhead sharks in U.S. waters.
Based on this paper, in 2005, the population was estimated to be at 45
percent of the biomass that would produce the maximum sustainable yield
(MSY), and fishing mortality was estimated to be 129 percent of fishing
mortality associated with MSY. The stock is estimated to be depleted by
approximately 83 percent of virgin stock size (i.e., the current
population is only 17 percent of the virgin stock size). In addition,
it was estimated that a total allowable catch (TAC) of 2,853 scalloped
hammerhead sharks per year (or 69 percent of 2005 catch) would allow a
70 percent probability of rebuilding within 10 years. NMFS has reviewed
this paper and concluded that: the assessment is complete; the
assessment is an improvement over a 2008 aggregated species assessment
for hammerhead sharks; and the assessment is appropriate for U.S.
management decisions.
Based on the results of this paper, NMFS is making the
determination that scalloped hammerhead sharks are overfished and
experiencing overfishing. Pending the results of the ongoing sandbar,
dusky, and blacknose shark stock assessments, NMFS will publish a
Notice of Intent regarding the development of a fishery management plan
amendment and implementing regulations to end overfishing and rebuild
the scalloped hammerhead shark stock within two years as mandated under
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. In
addition, for fisheries experiencing overfishing, NMFS must propose and
adopt effective ACLs and AMs to end overfishing.
Dated: April 25, 2011.
Margo Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-10328 Filed 4-27-11; 8:45 am]
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