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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 149 / Friday, August 6, 2021 / Proposed Rules patterns of the relevant shark species based on scientific and fishery-based knowledge; and/or effects of catch rates in one part of a region precluding vessels in another part of that region from having a reasonable opportunity to harvest a portion of the relevant quota.
In analyzing the criteria, NMFS
examines landings submitted in dealer reports on a weekly basis and catch rates based upon those dealer reports and have found that, to date, landings and subsequent quotas have not been exceeded. Catch rates in one part of a sub-region reached 80 percent have been closed, and have not reached 100
percent of the available quota. In addition, that closure did not preclude vessels in another part of that region or
sub-region from having a reasonable opportunity to harvest a portion of the relevant quota. Given the pattern of landings over the previous years, seasonal distribution of the species and/
or management groups has not had an effect on the landings within a region or sub-region.
After considering both sets of criteria in 635.24 and 635.28, NMFS is proposing to open the 2022 Atlantic commercial shark fishing season for all shark management groups in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, on January 1, 2022, after the publication of the final rule for this action Table 2. NMFS proposes to open the season on January 1, 2022, but
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recognizes that the actual opening date is contingent on publication of the final rule in the Federal Register, and may vary accordingly. NMFS is also proposing to start the 2022 commercial shark fishing season with the commercial retention limit of 55 LCS
other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in both the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico sub-regions, and a commercial retention limit of 55 LCS
other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in the Atlantic region Table 2.
Proposed retention limits could change as a result of public comments as well as updated catch rates and landings information submitted in dealer reports in the final rule.

TABLE 2QUOTA LINKAGES, SEASON OPENING DATES, AND COMMERCIAL RETENTION LIMIT BY REGIONAL OR SUBREGIONAL SHARK MANAGEMENT GROUP
Region or sub-region
Management group
Quota linkages

Season opening date
Commercial retention limits for directed shark limited access permit holders inseason adjustments are possible
Western Gulf of Mexico

Blacktip Sharks
Aggregated Large Coastal Sharks.
Hammerhead Sharks.
Blacktip Sharks
Aggregated Large Coastal Sharks.
Hammerhead Sharks.
Non-Blacknose Small Coastal Sharks.
Smoothhound Sharks
Aggregated Large Coastal Sharks.
Hammerhead Sharks.
Non-Blacknose Small Coastal Sharks.
Blacknose Sharks South of 34
N lat. only.
Smoothhound Sharks
Non-Sandbar LCS Research
Sandbar Shark Research.
Blue Sharks
Porbeagle Sharks.
Pelagic Sharks Other Than Porbeagle or Blue.

Not Linked
Linked.

January 1, 2022

55 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip.

Not Linked
Linked.

January 1, 2022

55 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip.

Not Linked

January 1, 2022

N/A.

Not Linked
Linked

January 1, 2022
January 1, 2022

N/A.
55 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip.

Linked South of 34 N
lat. only.

January 1, 2022

N/A.

Not Linked
Linked

January 1, 2022
January 1, 2022

8 Blacknose sharks per vessel per trip applies to directed and incidental permit holders.
N/A.
N/A.

Not Linked

January 1, 2022

N/A.

Eastern Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

Atlantic

No regional quotas

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635.28b4 lists species and/or management groups with quotas that are linked. If quotas are linked, when the specified quota threshold for one management group or species is reached and that management group or species is closed, the linked management group or species closes at the same time 635.28b3.

In the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico sub-regions, NMFS proposes opening the fishing season on January 1, 2022, for the aggregated LCS, blacktip sharks, and hammerhead shark management groups, with the commercial retention limits of 55 LCS
other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip for directed shark permits. This opening date and retention limit combination would provide, to the extent practicable, equitable opportunities across the fisheries management sub-regions. The season opening criteria listed in 635.27b3
requires NMFS to consider the length of the season for the different species and/
or management groups in the previous years 635.27b3ii and iii and
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whether fishermen were able to participate in the fishery in those years 635.27b3v. In addition, the criteria listed in 635.24a8 require NMFS to consider the catch rates of the relevant shark species/complexes based on landings submitted in dealer reports to date 635.24a8ii. NMFS may also adjust the retention limit in the Gulf of Mexico region throughout the season to ensure fishermen in all parts of the region have an opportunity to harvest aggregated LCS, blacktip sharks, and hammerhead sharks see the criteria listed at 635.27b3v and 635.24a8ii, v, and vi. Given these requirements, NMFS reviewed landings on a weekly basis for all species and/or management groups and
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determined that fishermen have been able to participate in the fishery, and landings from both Gulf of Mexico subregions and the Atlantic region have not exceeded the 2021 overall aggregated LCS quota to date. For both the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico sub-regions combined, landings submitted in dealer reports received through July 9, 2021, indicate that 66 percent 104.7 mt dw, 57 percent 219.3 mt dw, and almost 30
percent <8 mt dw of the available aggregated LCS, blacktip, and hammerhead shark quotas, respectively, have been harvested. Therefore, for 2022, NMFS is proposing opening both the western and eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-regions with a commercial retention
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