81_FR_69236 81 FR 69043 - Stock Status Determination for Atlantic Dusky Sharks

81 FR 69043 - Stock Status Determination for Atlantic Dusky Sharks

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 193 (October 5, 2016)

Page Range69043-69043
FR Document2016-24077

This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that Atlantic dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) are still overfished and subject to overfishing.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 69043]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24077]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE882


Stock Status Determination for Atlantic Dusky Sharks

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that Atlantic dusky 
sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) are still overfished and subject to 
overfishing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tobey Curtis by phone at 978-281-9273 
or Karyl Brewster-Geisz by phone at 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Atlantic dusky sharks are managed under the 2006 Consolidated 
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) 
and its amendments. Dusky sharks have been a prohibited species since 
2000 and may not be landed or retained in any fisheries. However, 
multiple commercial and recreational fisheries sometimes interact with 
the species as bycatch during the course of normal operations. The 2016 
assessment was an update to the 2011 stock assessment for dusky sharks. 
Thus, no new methodology was introduced, though all model inputs were 
updated with more recent data (i.e. effort, and 2010-2015 for all the 
indices of relative abundance, which included observer and survey 
data).
    Dusky sharks were first assessed in 2006, and all model results 
indicated that the stock had been heavily exploited, with depletion 
estimates between 62 and 80 percent from virgin biomass, and a 
rebuilding timeframe of 100 to 400 years. Dusky sharks were again 
assessed in 2011 through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review 
(SEDAR) process in SEDAR 21. The SEDAR 21 dusky shark assessment 
indicated that the species was overfished (spawning stock biomass 
[SSB]2009/SSBMSY = 0.41-0.50) and was 
experiencing overfishing (F2009/FMSY = 1.39-
4.35).
    All documents and information regarding the 2010 SEDAR 21 benchmark 
assessment and 2016 update can be found on the SEDAR Web page at http://sedarweb.org/sedar-21.

2016 Dusky Shark Stock Assessment Update Results

    The 2016 dusky shark stock assessment update used an age-structured 
catch-free production model since the species' prohibited status made 
the use of catch as an input largely impractical.
    In the 2011 SEDAR 21 assessment, the reviewers determined that 
there were five scenarios analyzed in the assessment that were 
plausible. Thus, in the 2016 update, the five scenarios reflective of 
plausible states of nature were analyzed and projections for each 
scenario were conducted. The five scenarios were: (1) The base 
scenario; (2) a high natural mortality scenario; (3) a U-shaped natural 
mortality curve allowing senescence; (4) a high productivity scenario; 
and (5) a low productivity scenario. Under all scenarios, the 2016 
update found the stock is still overfished (spawning stock fecundity 
[SSF]2015/SSFMSST = 0.44-0.69). Under all 
scenarios, the 2016 update found the stock was also still subject to 
overfishing (F2015/FMSY = 1.08-2.92).
    The assessment was peer reviewed by two reviewers. Overall, the 
peer reviewers determined the stock assessment to be based on the best 
scientific information available. Based on these results, NMFS has 
determined that the status of dusky sharks is overfished and 
overfishing is occurring.

    Dated: September 30, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-24077 Filed 10-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Notices 69043 • New Recommendation (not yet methodology was introduced, though all Dated: September 30, 2016. numbered) ‘‘Protein measuring model inputs were updated with more Emily H. Menashes, instruments for cereal grains and recent data (i.e. effort, and 2010–2015 Acting Director, Office of Sustainable oilseeds’’ (Australia); and for all the indices of relative abundance, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. • New Recommendation (not yet which included observer and survey [FR Doc. 2016–24077 Filed 10–4–16; 8:45 am] numbered) ‘‘Standard blackbody data). BILLING CODE 3510–22–P radiator for the temperature range from Dusky sharks were first assessed in ¥50 °C to 2500 °C’’ (Russian Federation). 2006, and all model results indicated DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Parties with an expressed interest in that the stock had been heavily particular topics may obtain copies of exploited, with depletion estimates National Oceanic and Atmospheric the OIML Conference technical agenda, between 62 and 80 percent from virgin Administration including copies of the biomass, and a rebuilding timeframe of 100 to 400 years. Dusky sharks were RIN 0648–XE929 Recommendations to be ratified, from the OIML International Conference Web again assessed in 2011 through the Fisheries of the South Atlantic; site at http://strasbourg.oiml.org, at the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Southeast Data, Assessment, and OIML Web site at www.oiml.org, or from Review (SEDAR) process in SEDAR 21. Review (SEDAR); Stock Identification the NIST International Legal Metrology The SEDAR 21 dusky shark assessment Work Group Post-Meeting Webinar for Program. indicated that the species was Atlantic Blueline Tilefish Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b). overfished (spawning stock biomass [SSB]2009/SSBMSY = 0.41–0.50) and was AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Kevin Kimball, experiencing overfishing (F2009/FMSY = Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and NIST Chief of Staff. 1.39–4.35). Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), [FR Doc. 2016–24076 Filed 10–4–16; 8:45 am] Commerce. All documents and information BILLING CODE 3510–13–P ACTION: Notice. regarding the 2010 SEDAR 21 benchmark assessment and 2016 update SUMMARY: Atlantic stock(s) of blueline DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE can be found on the SEDAR Web page tilefish will be assessed through SEDAR at http://sedarweb.org/sedar-21. 50. This webinar meeting is being held National Oceanic and Atmospheric 2016 Dusky Shark Stock Assessment to provide representatives of the Administration Update Results Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC) of the Gulf of Mexico, South RIN 0648–XE882 The 2016 dusky shark stock Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Stock Status Determination for Atlantic assessment update used an age- Management Councils an opportunity to Dusky Sharks structured catch-free production model review blueline tilefish stock since the species’ prohibited status identification recommendations and AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries provide guidance on addressing overlap made the use of catch as an input Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and between the biological stock and largely impractical. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Council management boundaries. Commerce. In the 2011 SEDAR 21 assessment, the DATES: The SEDAR 50 Stock ACTION: Notice. reviewers determined that there were Identification SSC Webinar Review will five scenarios analyzed in the SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice be held on Friday, October 28, 2016, assessment that were plausible. Thus, in that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., to view the the 2016 update, the five scenarios Commerce (Secretary), has determined agenda see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. reflective of plausible states of nature that Atlantic dusky sharks ADDRESSES: The Webinar is open to the were analyzed and projections for each (Carcharhinus obscurus) are still scenario were conducted. The five public. Those interested in participating overfished and subject to overfishing. should contact Julia Byrd at SEDAR (see scenarios were: (1) The base scenario; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to (2) a high natural mortality scenario; (3) Tobey Curtis by phone at 978–281–9273 request an invitation providing Webinar a U-shaped natural mortality curve or Karyl Brewster-Geisz by phone at access information. Please request allowing senescence; (4) a high 301–427–8503. Webinar invitations at least 24 hours in productivity scenario; and (5) a low advance of the Webinar. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: productivity scenario. Under all SEDAR Address: South Atlantic Background scenarios, the 2016 update found the Fishery Management Council, 4055 stock is still overfished (spawning stock Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Atlantic dusky sharks are managed fecundity [SSF]2015/SSFMSST = 0.44– under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Charleston, SC 29405 or at their Web 0.69). Under all scenarios, the 2016 site, at www.sedarweb.org. Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery update found the stock was also still FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia Management Plan (FMP) and its subject to overfishing (F2015/FMSY = Byrd, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber amendments. Dusky sharks have been a 1.08–2.92). Place Drive, Suite 201, North prohibited species since 2000 and may asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES not be landed or retained in any The assessment was peer reviewed by Charleston, SC 29405; phone (843) 571– fisheries. However, multiple two reviewers. Overall, the peer 4366; email: julia.byrd@safmc.net. commercial and recreational fisheries reviewers determined the stock SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: sometimes interact with the species as assessment to be based on the best bycatch during the course of normal scientific information available. Based Agenda operations. The 2016 assessment was an on these results, NMFS has determined The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, update to the 2011 stock assessment for that the status of dusky sharks is and Caribbean Fishery Management dusky sharks. Thus, no new overfished and overfishing is occurring. Councils, in conjunction with NOAA VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:15 Oct 04, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1


Document Created: 2016-10-05 03:29:13
Document Modified: 2016-10-05 03:29:13
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
ContactTobey Curtis by phone at 978-281-9273 or Karyl Brewster-Geisz by phone at 301-427-8503.
FR Citation81 FR 69043 
RIN Number0648-XE88
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