Introduction

The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Since 1993, there have been numerous changes to the shark regulations as a result of stock assessments, changes in stock status, and other fishery fluctuations. Despite these modifications, the Atlantic shark fisheries, specifically the non-sandbar large coastal shark (LCS) fishery, continues to sometimes experience problems such as commercial landings that exceed the quotas, “derby” fishing conditions, increasing numbers of regulatory discards, and declining market prices.

In September 2010, NMFS published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) (75 FR 57235) to seek public comment on alternative management strategies (quota structure, permit structure, and catch shares) that might better address these issues in the Atlantic shark fisheries. For more information on the ANPR and comments received, please look at the News & Announcements section.

In April 2011, among other public comments received and considered, NMFS received a draft proposal from regional stakeholders to implement a catch share program for Atlantic sharks in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). These fishermen recommend replacing the current management structure for LCS with an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program. These stakeholders submitted a revised proposal in August 2011. Additional details on the stakeholder proposal can be found in the News & Announcements section.

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Based on ANPR comments and the GOM stakeholders proposal, NMFS is considering implementation of catch shares for the Atlantic shark fisheries. "Catch Shares" is a general term used in fisheries management systems, like limited access privilege programs (LAPPs) and individual fishing quotas (IFQs), that dedicate a secure share of the quota to individual fishermen, cooperatives, or fishing communities for their use. It is one tool NMFS can use to address some of the ongoing issues in the shark fisheries. NMFS has prepared a Notice of Intent (NOI) and a white paper that provides more details about catch share programs and provides the public with additional information regarding some of the issues in the Atlantic shark fisheries.

Control Date – (September 16, 2011)

If NMFS takes future action to implement catch shares in the Atlantic shark fisheries, the control date would affect eligibility to participate in and receive an initial allocation of quota in the Atlantic shark fisheries. Unless NMFS changes the control date in the future, to be eligible for the Atlantic shark fisheries catch share program, participants must be in possession of a valid federal directed or incidental limited access shark permit on September 16, 2011. The Agency may or may not make use of this control date as part of the qualifying criteria for participation in any future catch share or other management program.

Requests for Landings History

To reduce duplicate work and minimize confusion, NMFS is requesting that permit holders not submit data requests for their logbook landings history. There will be ample opportunity before anything is finalized for all permit holders to review their landings data, which NMFS will compile and provide. The Agency will provide more detailed information at a future date.

Your Feedback Is Needed

The Agency is interested in your feedback on catch shares in the Atlantic shark fisheries. Please submit all comments by March 31, 2012.