Emergency Measures To Address Overfishing of Atlantic Shortfin Mako Shark

NMFS is taking emergency action through this interim final rule, in response to a new stock assessment for North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks to implement measures required by International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Recommendation 17-08. Based on the results of the stock assessment, on December 13, 2017, NMFS determined the North Atlantic shortfin mako shark stock to be overfished, with overfishing occurring. The emergency management measures will reduce shortfin mako shark landings in commercial and recreational shark fisheries, with retention allowed only in certain limited circumstances. The emergency management measures are expected to meet the United States' obligations in relation to ending overfishing, but are not expected to result in significant economic impacts.