2004 Second Semiannual Fishing Season for the Atlantic Shark Commercial Fisheries

June 7, 2004

Release from:
NOAA

The commercial shark fisheries for all species groups and all regions will open on July 1, 2004. The quotas have been adjusted to account for any over or under harvest in the second semiannual season of 2003. The regions are Gulf of Mexico (Texas through the West Coast of Florida), the South Atlantic (the East Coast of Florida through North Carolina including the Caribbean Sea), and the North Atlantic (Virginia north). Landings in the Florida Keys, the border between the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions, will be counted against the Gulf of Mexico regional quota.

The closure date for the large coastal shark fishery in the North Atlantic region will be announced at a later date once the proposed rule regarding the quota split between the semiannual quotas is finalized (May 13, 2004, 69 FR 26540). For more detailed information on quotas and requirements, visit NOAA Fisheries’ HMS Web page or contact Karyl Brewster-Geisz at (301) 713-2347.