Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fisheries; Large Coastal Shark Fishery; Season Adjustments

NMFS has determined that the large coastal shark (LCS) commercial fishery quota for the second semiannual fishing season has not been reached. Therefore, NMFS notifies eligible participants that the commercial fishery for LCS in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, which was scheduled to close September 30, 1999, at 11:30 p.m. local time, has been extended to October 15, 1999, at 11:30 p.m. local time. Both the ridgeback and non-ridgeback sectors of the LCS fishery will remain open until the issued closure date. This action is necessary to ensure adequate opportunity for eligible fishery participants to harvest the available quota and to ensure that the adjusted semiannual quota for LCS for the period July 1 through December 31, 1999, is not exceeded.