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| Subject: Bad News for Atlantic Shark Managment | |
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Author: Jim Morris |
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Date Posted: 930839947PDT Forwarded: "On June 30, 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service received a Court Order from Judge Steven D. Merryday relative to the May, 1997 lawsuit challenging commercial harvest quotas for Atlantic sharks. This new decision virtually eliminates many of the new shark management measures that were to go into effect July 1, 1999, except for limited access..., trip limits..., shark gillnet observer coverage, and all recreational shark measures... "Therefore, the large coastal shark (LCS) quota reverts to its 1997 level of 1,285 mt dw (all species of LCS included), with no minimum size on ridgebacks, the pelagic and small coastal shark quotas also revert to their 1997 levels, [and] the 1997 prohibited species list now applies in commercial fisheries only (five prohibited species: white, basking, whale, sand tiger and bigeye sand tiger). Note in particular that duskies are again an allowed species... "...all [new] recreational measures (minimum size, bag limits, and 1999 prohibited species list) still apply and will be enforced." Now my words: This court action threatens to destroy the shark rebuilding program that has taken NMFS, independent scientists, the HMS Advisory Panel, and many others over a year to develop and put into place. Lest anyone think that Judge Merryday's opinion is based on a lack of confidence in the stock rebuilding plan, this action strictly revolves around economic issues in the commercial fishery. Otherwise, the recreational measures would have been thrown out as well. If this were a political action, I might have some recommendations for Elasmo-L subscribers on where to voice their opinions about this. But since this is a legal decision, I guess all we can do is wait for the legal process to grind. Hopefully NMFS can pursue an appeal and overturn this soon. Any input from NMFS staff or anyone else on this disturbing development would be appreciated. [Please note: I will be out of the office now until next Tuesday so will not be able to comment further until that time.] Bob ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ROBERT E. HUETER, Ph.D. rhueter@mote.org Senior Scientist & Director Tel: 941-388-4441 X323 Center for Shark Research Fax: 941-388-4312 Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway MORE INFO AT: Sarasota, FL 34236 USA www.mote.org The Center for Shark Research (CSR), an international research center dedicated to the scientific study of sharks, skates, and rays, is one of five research centers at Mote Marine Laboratory (MML). MML is an independent, nonprofit research and education organization. Opinions expressed are not MML policy unless otherwise indicated. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Re: Bad News for Atlantic Shark Managment | Jim Morris | 930842182PDT |
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