The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced the closure of the Atlantic commercial fishery for non-sandbar large coastal sharks on July 1, after catches in the first half of the year met the weight quota for 2009. It is said that the closure includes all state and federal waters from Maine to Florida and it applies to silky, tiger, blacktip, spinner, bull, lemon, nurse, scalloped hammerheads, great hammerhead, and smooth hammerhead sharks.
Mike Luisi, deputy assistant director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said the closure would not have much effect on local fishermen. Luisi also said that the reason for that is due, at least in part, to the state’s relatively small ocean coastline — which is about 30 miles long — and single Atlantic harbor.
Since the Atlantic season for non-sandbar sharks opened on Jan. 23, fishermen have brought in roughly 173 metric tons of the 10 species, or about 92 percent of the annual quota. Peter Fischel of the National Fisheries Service revealed that scientific observers aboard boats were anticipating that by July 1, at least 92 percent would be taken. That date would allow boats out fishing to bring in their catch in time without going over the quota.
The closure only effects commercial fishermen; recreational fishing for sharks is permitted after the protective season is over on July 15. Commercial fishermen are governed by quotas — once a quota is achieved, the national service notifies the state to close their waters.
