2020 Commercial Atlantic Shark Fishing Quotas, Dates & Retention Limits
Summary
This final rule establishes quota levels, opening dates, and retention limits for the 2020 Atlantic commercial shark fisheries, including those in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. NOAA Fisheries may increase or decrease these retention limits for directed shark limited access permit holders during the year in accordance with existing regulations.
The final rule uses landings data received as of October 18, 2019. All dealer reports that are received after the date of the final rule will be used to adjust the 2021 quotas, as appropriate.
This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.
2020 Quotas
The 2020 quotas, adjusted as appropriate to account for over- and under-harvests, are summarized below by management group. Adjustments based on over- and under-harvests depend on stock status.
Western Gulf of Mexico Sub-Region
Opens January 1, 2020
|
Management Group |
2020 Adjusted Quota* |
Quota Linkages |
Commercial Retention Limits for Directed Shark Limited Access Permit Holders |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Blacktip sharks |
347.2 mt dw (765,392 lb dw)** |
Not Linked |
45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip |
|
Aggregated large coastal sharks (agg. LCS) |
72.0 mt dw (158,724 lb dw) |
Linked with hammerheads |
45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip |
|
Hammerhead sharks |
11.9 mt dw (26,301 lb dw) |
Linked with agg. LCS |
45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip |
*1 mt dw = 2,204.6 lb dw
**Baseline quota adjusted based on over- or underharvest as calculated by landings reported by October 18, 2019.
Eastern Gulf of Mexico Sub-Region
Opens January 1, 2020
|
Management Group |
2020 Adjusted Quota* |
Quota Linkages |
Commercial Retention Limits for Directed Shark Limited Access Permit Holders |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Blacktip sharks |
37.7 mt dw (83,158 lb dw)** |
Not Linked |
45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip |
|
Aggregated large coastal sharks (agg. LCS) |
85.5 mt dw (188,593 lb dw) |
Linked with hammerheads |
45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip |
|
Hammerhead sharks |
13.4 mt dw (29,421 lb dw) |
Linked with agg. LCS |
45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip |
*1 mt dw = 2,204.6 lb dw
**Baseline quota adjusted based on over- or underharvest as calculated by landings reported by October 18, 2019.
Gulf of Mexico Region
Opens January 1, 2020
|
Management Group |
2020 Adjusted Quota* |
Quota Linkages |
Commercial Retention Limits for Directed Shark Limited Access Permit Holders |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Non-blacknose small coastal sharks |
112.6 mt dw (248,215 lb dw) |
Not Linked |
N/A |
|
Smoothhound sharks |
504.6 mt dw (1,112,441 lb dw)** |
Not Linked |
N/A |
*1 mt dw = 2,204.6 lb dw
**Baseline quota adjusted based on over- or underharvest as calculated by landings reported by October 18, 2019.
Atlantic Region
Opens January 1, 2020
|
Management Group |
2020 Adjusted Quota* |
Quota Linkages |
Commercial Retention Limits for Directed Shark Limited Access Permit Holders |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Aggregated large coastal sharks (agg. LCS) |
168.9 mt dw (372,552 lb dw) |
Linked with hammerheads |
36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip1 |
|
Hammerhead sharks |
27.1 mt dw (59,736 lb dw) |
Linked with agg. LCS |
36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip1 |
|
Non-blacknose small coastal sharks |
264.1 mt dw (582,333 lb dw) |
Linked with blacknose sharks (south of 34° N. lat. only) |
N/A |
|
Blacknose sharks (south of 34° N. lat. only) |
17.2 mt dw (37,921 lb dw) |
Linked with non-blacknose sharks (south of 34° N. lat. only) |
8 blacknose sharks per vessel per trip2 |
|
Smoothhound sharks |
1,802.6 mt dw (3,973,902 lb dw)** |
Not linked |
N/A |
*1 mt dw = 2,204.6 lb dw
**Baseline quota adjusted based on over- or underharvest as calculated by landings reported by October 18, 2019.
1If quota is landed too quickly (e.g. if approximately 35 percent of quota is caught at the beginning of the year), we anticipate considering an inseason reduction (e.g. to three or fewer large coastal sharks other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip) and later considering an inseason increase (e.g., to 36 large coastal sharks other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip).
2Applies to directed and incidental permit holders.
No Regional Quotas
Opens January 1, 2020
|
Management Group |
2020 Adjusted Quota* |
Quota Linkages |
Commercial Retention Limits for Directed Shark Limited Access Permit Holders |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Non-sandbar large coastal shark (LCS) research |
50.0 mt dw (110,230 lb dw) |
Linked with sandbar shark research |
N/A |
|
Sandbar shark research |
90.7 mt dw (199,943 lb dw) |
Linked with agg. LCS |
N/A |
|
Non-blacknose small coastal sharks |
264.1 mt dw (582,333 lb dw) |
Linked with blacknose sharks (south of 34° N. lat. only) |
N/A |
|
Blue sharks |
273.0 mt dw (601,856 lb dw) |
Not linked |
N/A |
|
Porbeagle sharks |
1.7 mt dw (3,748 lb dw) |
Not linked |
N/A |
|
Pelagic sharks other than porbeagle or blue |
488.0 mt dw (1,075,856 lb dw) |
Not linked |
N/A |
*1 mt dw = 2,204.6 lb dw