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

NMFS 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 7, 1999, NMFS announced in the Federal Register a closure date of July 12, 1999, for non-ridgeback LCS and a closure date of August 8, 1999, for ridgeback LCS. In a court order by Judge Stephen D. Merryday, the new regulations governing catch quotas and fish counting methods are enjoined until further order of the court. Therefore, based on 1997 and 1998 catch rates, NMFS has determined that the second semiannual subquota for LCS will be reached on or before July 28, 1999.