Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Commercial Shark Management Measures

This final rule establishes the 2008 first trimester season commercial quotas for large coastal sharks (LCS), small coastal sharks (SCS), and pelagic sharks based on over- or underharvests from the 2007 first trimester season. This action provides advance notice of quotas and season dates for the Atlantic commercial shark fishery. It also ensures the measures in this action are in place until they are replaced by those implemented under Amendment 2 to the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Consolidated Fishery Management Plan (FMP) even if Amendment 2 is finalized after the start of the second trimester season (May 1, 2008). As such, this action constitutes the regulatory action to determine quotas and season lengths for LCS, SCS and pelagic sharks for the 2008 second trimester season. However, if Amendment 2 to the HMS FMP is unexpectedly delayed beyond the end of the 2008 second trimester season, NMFS may consider a rulemaking for the 2008 third trimester seasons. NMFS would announce any additional action for the second and third seasons in a future Federal Register notice.