[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 227 (Monday, November 27, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58245-58246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28875]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 630
[I.D. 111495D]
Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Bycatch Limit Adjustment
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason action.
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SUMMARY: This inseason action adjusts the longline bycatch limit for
Atlantic swordfish. Aboard a vessel using or having aboard a longline
and not having aboard harpoon gear, no more than six swordfish per trip
as bycatch may be possessed in the North Atlantic Ocean to avoid
exceeding the total allowable catch and reducing the potential for
discard waste.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 0001 hours, local time, December 5, 1995, through 2400
hours, local time, December 31, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald G. Rinaldo, 301-713- 2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic swordfish fishery is managed
under the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16
U.S.C. 971 et seq.).
The implementing regulations at 50 CFR 630.25(c)(2)(ii) establish a
bycatch of 15 swordfish that may be harvested by longline vessels
during the non-directed fishery and provide that the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA may modify the bycatch limits based
upon the length of the directed fishery closure as well as the
estimated catch per vessel in the non-directed fishery.
Considering reported landings to date, projections of total catch
based on recent landings data and estimates of bycatch during the
directed fishery closure since October 31, 1995, it has been determined
that with a 15-fish bycatch limit, the bycatch quota for 1995 will be
reached before December 31, 1995. Under 50 CFR 630.25(a)(2), NMFS is
required to close the longline bycatch fishery for swordfish when its
quota is reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a document
at the Office of the Federal Register at least 14 days before the
closure is to become effective. Given the prolonged closure in the
directed longline fishery for Atlantic swordfish, a closure of the
bycatch fishery would require that all swordfish taken by longliners be
discarded.
To avoid a bycatch closure and reduce potential discard waste, the
longline fishery bycatch for Atlantic swordfish is reduced to six fish
per trip. By reducing the longline bycatch limit to six fish for the
month of December, it is projected that it is less likely that the 1995
bycatch quota will be exceeded.
During the bycatch fishery, aboard a vessel using or having aboard
a longline and not having aboard harpoon gear, a person may not fish
for swordfish from the North Atlantic swordfish stock and no more than
six swordfish per trip as bycatch may be possessed in the North
Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, north
of 5 deg. N. lat., or landed in an Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, or
Caribbean coastal state. This bycatch limit adjustment is effective
from 0001 hours December 5, 1995, through 2400 hours December 31, 1995.
[[Page 58246]]
The directed fishery closure remains in effect through December 31,
1995.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR 630.25(a) and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Dated: November 20, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-28875 Filed 11-21-95; 4:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
