§ 285.30 - Tags.

(a) Issuance of tags. The Regional Director will issue numbered tail tags to each person receiving a dealer's permit under § 285.28.

(b) Transfer of tags. Tail tags issued under this section are not transferable and are usable only by the permitted dealer to whom they are issued.

(c) Affixing tags. (1) A dealer or agent must affix a tail tag to each Atlantic bluefin tuna purchased or received, immediately upon its offloading from a vessel. The tail tag must be affixed to the tuna between the fifth dorsal finlet and the keel.

(2) Any person who catches a large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna and does not transfer it to a permitted dealer must contact the nearest NMFS enforcement office at the time of landing said Atlantic bluefin tuna and make the tuna available so that a NMFS enforcement agent may inspect the fish and attach a tail tag to it. A list of local NMFS enforcement offices can be obtained by contacting regional offices in Gloucester, MA (508-281-9261) and St. Petersburg, FL (813-570-5344). The Regional Director may designate a person other than a NMFS agent to inspect and tag the fish. Such designation will be made in writing.

(d) Removal of tags. A tag affixed to any Atlantic bluefin tuna under paragraph (c)(1) of this section or under § 285.202(a)(6)(v) must remain on the tuna until the tuna is cut into portions. If the tuna or tuna parts subsequently are packaged for transport for domestic commercial use or for export, the tag number must be written legibly and indelibly on the outside of any package or container. Tag numbers must be recorded on any document accompanying shipment of bluefin tuna for commercial use or export.

(e) Reuse of tags. Tags issued under this section are separately numbered and may be used only once, one tail tag per fish, to distinguish the purchase of one Atlantic bluefin tuna. Once affixed to a tuna or recorded on any package, container or report, a tail tag and associated number may not be reused.