Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fisheries; Prohibited Shark Species; Large Coastal Shark Species; Commercial Fishery Closure Change

NMFS implements the 1999 prohibited species provisions and changes the closure of the large coastal shark (LCS) commercial fishery in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. On June 6, 2000, NMFS announced in the Federal Register a closure date of August 7, 2000, for LCS. In a court order by Judge Stephen D. Merryday, the 1999 regulations governing prohibited species provisions may be implemented and enforced, pending further review of the court. Therefore, based on 1997, 1998, and 1999 catch rates and the implementation of the prohibited species provisions, NMFS has determined that the second semiannual adjusted quota for LCS will be reached on or before August 15, 2000.