[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66828-66829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33300]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 121597C]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure; catch limit adjustment.
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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the fishery for large medium and giant Atlantic
bluefin tuna (ABT) conducted by Angling category fishermen in the
southern area (the waters off Delaware and states south). Closure of
this fishery is necessary because the 4 metric tons (mt) of large
medium and giant ABT allocated for this subcategory is projected to be
attained by December 17, 1997. The intent of this action is to prevent
overharvest of this subcategory. In addition, effective January 1,
1998, the daily catch limit for ABT is adjusted to one fish per vessel,
which may be from the school, large school, or small medium size class.
This action is being taken to lengthen the fishing season and ensure
reasonable fishing opportunities in all geographic areas without
risking overharvest of the Angling category.
DATES: The closure is effective 11:30 p.m., local time, December 17,
1997, through December 31, 1997. The daily catch limit adjustment is
effective 12:30 a.m., local time, January 1, 1998, until the end of the
1998 winter fishery. NMFS will publish a subsequent document specifying
a closure or any additional adjustment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin, 301-713-2347, or Pat
Scida, 978-281-9208.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) governing
the harvest of ABT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction
are found at 50 CFR part 285.
Closure
Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 50 CFR
285.22 provide for a total annual quota of 4 mt of large medium and
giant ABT (measuring greater than 73 inches (185 cm)) to be harvested
in the southern area (south of 38 deg.47' N. lat.) by vessels permitted
in the Angling category or the Charter/Headboat category. NMFS is
required, under Sec. 285.20(b)(1), to monitor the catch and landing
statistics and, on the basis of these statistics, to project a date
when the catch of ABT will equal the quota applicable to any period.
As of December 15, 1997, reported recreational fishery landings of
large medium and giant ABT in the southern area totaled approximately
3.8 mt. Information on fishing effort and catch rates available to NMFS
indicates that the remaining quota is likely to be taken by the closure
date. Therefore, fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large
medium or giant ABT in the southern area by vessels in the Angling
category or Charter/Headboat category must cease at 11:30 p.m., local
time, December 17, 1997. This action is to prevent overharvest of the
quota established for this subcategory. Recreational anglers may
continue to fish for large medium and giant ABT under the NMFS tag and
release program (50 CFR 285.27). The Angling category trophy fishery
for large medium and giant ABT remains open in the northern area until
further notice.
Catch Limit Adjustment
Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at
Sec. 285.24 allow for adjustments to the daily catch limits in order to
lengthen the fishing season and ensure reasonable fishing opportunities
for all geographic areas. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, may increase or reduce the per angler catch limit for any size
class bluefin tuna or may change the per angler limit to a per boat
limit or a per boat limit to a per angler limit.
The 1997 Angling category fishery closed effective October 19, 1997
(62 FR 53247, October 14, 1997). The 1998 Angling category fishery for
ABT measuring 27 inches and greater will open January 1, 1998. NMFS
adjusts the daily catch limit, effective January 1, 1998 as follows: No
more than one bluefin tuna may be retained each day per Angling
category vessel, which may be from the school, large school, or small
medium size class. Based on the high catch rates and large average size
of ABT landed during the first few months of 1997, this action is being
taken to lengthen the fishing season and ensure reasonable fishing
opportunities in all geographic areas without risking overharvest.
Charter/Headboat vessels, when engaged in recreational fishing for
school, large school, and small medium ABT, are subject to the same
rules as Angling category vessels. The trophy fish catch limit of one-
per-vessel-per-year will remain in effect for 1998.
Subsequent adjustments to the daily catch limit, if any, shall be
announced through publication in the Federal Register. In addition,
anglers may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at 301-713-1279 or
978-281-9305 for updates on quota monitoring and catch limit
adjustments.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.20(b)(1) and 285.24(d)(3) and
is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
[[Page 66829]]
Dated: December 16, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-33300 Filed 12-17-97; 3:35 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
