From an email from the National Marine Fisheries Service:

NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule (83 FR 35637) on July 27 that announced its intent to amend the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

This amendment is based on the results of the 2017 stock assessment and a subsequent binding recommendation by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas for North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks. 

The North Atlantic shortfin mako shark stock is overfished and is experiencing overfishing. 

Consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, NOAA Fisheries is proposing management measures that would reduce fishing mortality on shortfin mako sharks and establish a foundation for rebuilding the shortfin mako shark population consistent with legal requirements. 

The proposed measures could affect U.S. commercial and recreational fishermen who target and harvest shortfin mako sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea by increasing live releases and reducing landings. 

The comment period for the proposed rule has been extended to Oct. 8. 

NOAA Fisheries is extending the comment period to provide an opportunity for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to be briefed, and for the Council and other interested parties to comment on the proposed rule. 

Written public comments can be submitted electronically or through the mail. 

Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. 

To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, enter “NOAA-NMFS-2018-0011” in the keyword search. 

Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and click on the “Submit a Comment” icon on the right of that line. 

This notice is a courtesy to Atlantic HMS fishery participants to help keep you informed about the fishery. 

Official notice of Federal actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of Federal Register. 

For further information on this proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement, contact Guý DuBeck or Karyl Brewster-Geisz at 301-427-8503. 

The information will also be posted on the HMS website.

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