[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14030-14034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7629]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
15 CFR Part 902
50 CFR Part 644
[Docket No. 980305056-8056-01; I.D. 020398B]
RIN 0648-AK88
Atlantic Billfishes; Atlantic Blue Marlin and Atlantic White
Marlin Size Limits; Billfish Tournament Notification Requirements
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 14031]]
ACTION: Interim rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This interim rule increases the minimum size limits for
Atlantic blue marlin (BUM) and Atlantic white marlin (WHM) to 96 inches
(244 cm) lower jaw-fork length (LJFL) and 66 inches (168 cm) LJFL,
respectively, and specifies requirements to notify NMFS of tournaments
involving any Atlantic billfish at least 4 weeks prior to commencement.
NMFS invites public comments on the increase in minimum size limits.
Public hearings on this issue will be announced in the Federal Register
at a later date. The intended effect of this interim rule is to reduce
overfishing of BUM and WHM, and to implement a recommendation of the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
(ICCAT).
DATES: This interim rule is effective March 27, 1998 through September
23, 1998. Comments must be received not later than May 22, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this interim rule should be mailed to, and
copies of documents supporting this action may be obtained from, the
Highly Migratory Species Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments
regarding the collection-of-information requirement contained in this
interim rule should be sent to the same address and to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), Washington, DC 20503 (Attention: NOAA Desk Officer).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Buck Sutter, 813-570-5447; fax: 813-
570-5364; or Jill Stevenson, 301-713-2347; fax: 301-713-1917.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic BUM and Atlantic WHM are managed
under the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Billfish and
implemented under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) at 50 CFR part
644. In addition, BUM and WHM are managed throughout the Atlantic Ocean
by ICCAT, of which the United States is a member. The Secretary of
Commerce has the responsibility, under the Atlantic Tunas Convention
Act (ATCA), to implement ICCAT recommendations. In 1997, ICCAT
recommended a reduction of BUM and WHM landings by at least 25 percent
from 1996 levels, starting in 1998, to be accomplished by 1999. The
1997 ICCAT recommendation also included provisions to promote the
voluntary release of live BUM and WHM, and to improve current
monitoring, data collection and reporting procedures in fisheries
landing BUM and WHM.
Stock assessments for BUM and WHM were completed most recently in
1996 by ICCAT's Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS).
NMFS has identified both BUM and WHM as overfished; ICCAT considers
both species to be over-exploited. Historically, both species have been
considered separately as North and South Atlantic stocks (dividing line
at 5 deg. N. lat.). Recent genetic and tag and recapture information
indicates that an entire Atlantic stock may be more appropriate;
however, available information from the South Atlantic makes a total
Atlantic Ocean assessment problematic. Accordingly, assessments
preformed by ICCAT's SCRS include both a North Atlantic and a total
Atlantic Ocean evaluation. The biomass of BUM for the total Atlantic
Ocean and North Atlantic in 1996 was estimated to be about 24 and 61
percent, respectively, of the biomass needed to produce maximum
sustainable yield (MSY); biomass levels for WHM were estimated to be
about 23 and 32 percent, respectively, of levels need to produce MSY.
In 1996, Congress reauthorized the Magnuson-Stevens Act by passing
the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA), which included several provisions
that directly impacted the management of highly migratory species
(HMS). One of the new provisions requires NMFS to notify Congress each
year on the status of U.S. fisheries. In September, 1997, NMFS
submitted the first report, entitled ``Report to Congress: Status of
Fisheries in the United States,'' which listed both BUM and WHM as
overfished. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is required to submit
a draft FMP to the Secretary of Commerce, by September 30, 1998, that
includes a rebuilding plan for BUM and WHM. Another new provision
included in the SFA (Section 302(g)(1)) was the establishment of
Advisory Panels (APs) to assist in the preparation of FMPs or FMP
amendments involving HMS. Consequently, NMFS established a Billfish AP,
with membership consisting of representatives from commercial and
recreational fisheries, environmental, state management, and scientific
entities, as well as members of the five affected fishery management
councils with management jurisdiction along the U.S. Atlantic Ocean,
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts.
At the January 1998 AP meeting, NMFS provided background
information on landings and recent stock assessments in consideration
of an amendment to the Billfish FMP, in light of the 1997 ICCAT
recommendations. Currently, only recreational landings of Atlantic
billfish are allowable for U.S. fishermen; no Atlantic billfish may be
purchased, bartered, traded, sold, or offered for sale in any state.
Recreational landings for 1996 (ICCAT's target year for catch
reduction) were 74,737 lb (34.9 mt) of BUM and 7,275 lb (3.3 mt) of
WHM. Beginning in 1998, the United States is bound by ICCAT to
immediately begin to reduce annual BUM and WHM landings to ensure that
1999 landings are at least 25 percent below 1996 levels. The Billfish
AP considered various management options to accomplish this goal, and
reached consensus to increase the minimum legal landing size of BUM
from 86 inches LJFL/197 lb (219 cm/89 kg) to 96 inches LJFL/286 lb (244
cm/130 kg), and increase WHM from 62 inches LJFL/47.6 lb (157.4 cm/22
kg) to 66 inches LJFL/57.5 lb (168 cm/26 kg). The increases in the size
limits were based on the 1994 to 1996 size distribution and landings
and were calculated to reduce BUM and WHM landings by number and weight
during 1998 to provide an adequate time frame to determine if these
size measures are an effective means to meet U.S. billfish landing
limits by the end of 1999. The increases in the minimum size limits are
estimated to result in a reduction in landings of 46 percent by number
and 39 percent by weight of BUM, and a reduction of 53 percent by
number and weight of WHM from 1996 levels.
The Billfish AP also considered the ICCAT recommendation to promote
the voluntary release of live BUM and WHM, and to improve current
monitoring, data collection, and reporting procedures in all their
fisheries. The United States already has a mandatory 100 percent
release requirement for BUM and WHM caught by commercial vessels, and
the recreational fishery is voluntarily releasing approximately 90
percent of all billfish caught. To ensure that the new size limits are
widely communicated, that accurate data are collected, and that the
release of live billfish is encouraged, in consideration of the
recommendations of the Billfish AP, this interim rule requires all
tournaments involving BUM and/or WHM to provide notification to NMFS of
the purpose, dates and location of any tournament involving score
keeping or awards for the capture of Atlantic billfish, at least 4
weeks prior to commencement. This requirement is necessary to provide
NMFS with a complete data set of all active billfish
[[Page 14032]]
tournaments, thereby allowing statistically appropriate levels of data
collection to enhance monitoring of BUM and WHM landings. The
information collection requirement for tournaments previously listed
under 50 CFR 644.5, is restated as 50 CFR 644.10.
The 4-week notification requirement for tournaments involving
Atlantic billfish was included in the proposed rule consolidating
regulations for Atlantic Migratory Species Fisheries (61 FR 57361,
November 6, 1996). Five public hearings were held to receive oral
comments on the proposed consolidated rule. Additionally, numerous
written comments were received by mail and fax. The following
summarizes and responds only to comments addressing billfish tournament
requirements.
Comment: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)
comments that unless HMS tournaments are required to secure a Federal
license, and NMFS specifically monitors competitive events and levies
fines for violations, the program will not provide good data. They
requested clarification on the tournament selection process and
expressed concern that if only the largest, most visible events are
chosen it would not accurately reflect true catch and effort for HMS.
SCDNR also expressed concern that South Carolina tournaments would be
targeted at a higher rate because the State has made the effort to
identify these events and that the proposed action would require
extensive funding and manpower, neither of which are available.
Response: Directors of HMS tournaments are required to register
with the Science Director and NMFS will develop a statistically based
sampling program. Under such a program, states with a higher proportion
of tournaments will likely be selected more often. However, the burden
is minimal since the report largely consists of information readily
available to tournament directors.
Comment: The North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc., comments
that it is unclear why only tournaments selected by NMFS are required
to report landings, since small tournaments (<200 boats)="" can="" have="" substantial="" landings="" of="" hms.="" response:="" the="" tournament="" reporting="" program="" will="" comprise="" a="" statistically="" based="" sample="" drawn="" from="" all="" tournaments="" registered="" with="" the="" science="" director.="" comment:="" the="" national="" fisheries="" institute="" (nfi)="" suggests="" that="" nmfs="" require="" landing="" and="" fishing="" effort="" reports="" for="" all="" recreational="" hms="" tournaments.="" response:="" in="" order="" to="" reduce="" the="" potential="" burden="" on="" nmfs="" and="" tournament="" directors,="" a="" statistically="" based="" sample="" of="" tournaments="" will="" be="" selected="" for="" reporting.="" comment:="" the="" government="" of="" the="" virgin="" islands="" samples="" recreational="" catches="" using="" a="" non-uniform="" probability="" sampling="" program="" and="" voluntary="" use="" of="" fishery="" logbooks.="" the="" division="" of="" fish="" and="" wildlife="" serves="" as="" weigh="" masters="" for="" all="" but="" one="" fishing="" tournament.="" instead="" of="" imposing="" new="" reporting="" requirements,="" the="" government="" of="" the="" virgin="" islands="" and="" nmfs="" should="" explore="" means="" of="" supplying="" data="" to="" iccat,="" while="" not="" adding="" to="" the="" burden="" of="" fishermen.="" this="" could="" be="" accomplished="" through="" better="" communication="" with="" the="" hms="" management="" division="" and="" the="" office="" of="" sustainable="" fisheries,="" nmfs,="" and="" the="" virgin="" island's="" division="" of="" fish="" and="" wildlife.="" response:="" nmfs="" agrees="" that="" cooperative="" efforts="" could="" improve="" data="" collection="" while="" reducing="" the="" administrative="" burden;="" however,="" a="" uniform="" data="" collection="" system="" is="" needed="" to="" provide="" statistically="" reliable="" information="" for="" monitoring="" of="" billfish="" landings="" throughout="" u.s.="" waters,="" including="" the="" caribbean="" sea.="" at="" their="" january,="" 1998="" meeting,="" the="" billfish="" ap="" urged="" nmfs="" to="" implement="" these="" measures="" (recommended="" by="" iccat="" in="" november="" 1997)="" before="" the="" start="" of="" billfish="" tournament="" season="" (march="" 1998).="" nmfs="" agrees="" that="" it="" is="" necessary="" to="" implement="" the="" 1997="" iccat="" recommendation="" as="" soon="" as="" possible="" to="" assess="" the="" effects="" of="" these="" measures="" throughout="" the="" entire="" billfish="" fishing="" season,="" and="" to="" be="" in="" compliance="" with="" the="" iccat="" recommendation.="" while="" the="" focus="" of="" the="" iccat="" recommendation="" is="" on="" landings,="" the="" greatest="" source="" of="" billfish="" mortality="" in="" the="" united="" states="" is="" from="" dead="" discards="" in="" the="" longline="" fishery.="" these="" are="" closely="" monitored="" through="" observer="" and="" logbook="" data,="" and="" fully="" reported="" to="" iccat.="" nmfs="" will="" continue="" to="" monitor="" this="" source="" of="" mortality="" and="" will="" work="" with="" the="" billfish="" ap="" to="" consider="" measures="" to="" reduce="" longline="" dead="" discards.="" nmfs="" has="" determined="" that="" the="" measures="" recommended="" by="" the="" billfish="" ap="" are="" based="" on="" the="" best="" available="" scientific="" information="" to="" prevent="" further="" overfishing,="" and="" to="" implement="" iccat="" recommendations.="" given="" the="" overfished="" status="" of="" both="" bum="" and="" whm="" as="" described="" in="" the="" 1997="" ``report="" to="" congress:="" status="" of="" fisheries="" in="" the="" united="" states,''="" nmfs="" is="" implementing="" these="" measures="" under="" section="" 305(c)="" of="" the="" magnuson-="" stevens="" act.="" the="" interim="" measure="" is="" needed="" to="" meet="" u.s.="" obligations="" under="" iccat,="" and="" to="" initiate="" measures="" to="" prevent="" further="" overfishing.="" in="" summary,="" this="" interim="" rule="" implements="" the="" reporting="" requirement="" proposed="" in="" 61="" fr="" 57361="" (november="" 6,="" 1996).="" that="" is,="" all="" persons="" conducting="" a="" fishing="" tournament="" involving="" scorekeeping="" or="" awards="" for="" the="" capture="" of="" atlantic="" billfish,="" regardless="" of="" whether="" those="" fish="" are="" retained,="" from="" a="" port="" in="" an="" atlantic,="" gulf="" of="" mexico,="" or="" caribbean="" state="" must="" notify="" the="" science="" director="" at="" the="" southeast="" fisheries="" science="" center,="" 75="" virginia="" beach="" drive,="" miami,="" fl="" 33149,="" in="" writing,="" at="" least="" 4="" weeks="" prior="" to="" the="" commencement="" of="" the="" tournament.="" this="" interim="" rule="" also="" increases="" minimum="" size="" limits="" for="" the="" retention="" of="" bum="" (96="" inches="" (244="" cm)="" ljfl)="" and="" whm="" (66="" inches="" (168="" cm)="" ljfl).="" on="" july="" 28,="" 1997,="" nmfs="" received="" a="" petition="" for="" rulemaking="" from="" nfi.="" nmfs="" announced="" receipt="" of="" the="" petition="" in="" a="" federal="" register="" notice="" on="" august="" 28,="" 1997="" (62="" fr="" 45614)="" and="" made="" copies="" available="" to="" interested="" parties,="" including="" members="" of="" the="" billfish="" ap.="" this="" interim="" rule="" directly="" responds="" to="" one="" of="" the="" points="" made="" in="" the="" petition,="" which="" recommends="" mandatory="" registrations="" and="" reporting="" for="" all="" billfish="" tournaments.="" under="" noaa="" administrative="" order="" 205-11,="" 7.01,="" dated="" december="" 17,="" 1990,="" the="" under="" secretary="" for="" oceans="" and="" atmosphere="" has="" delegated="" authority="" to="" sign="" material="" for="" publication="" in="" the="" federal="" register="" to="" the="" assistant="" administrator="" for="" fisheries,="" noaa.="" classification="" nmfs="" issues="" this="" interim="" rule,="" effective="" for="" 180="" days,="" as="" authorized="" by="" section="" 305(c)="" of="" the="" magnuson-stevens="" act.="" this="" interim="" rule="" may="" be="" extended="" for="" an="" additional="" 180="" days="" provided="" the="" public="" has="" had="" an="" opportunity="" to="" comment="" on="" the="" interim="" rule="" and,="" at="" the="" time="" of="" extension,="" a="" plan="" amendment="" or="" proposed="" regulations="" to="" address="" the="" overfishing="" on="" a="" permanent="" basis="" is="" being="" actively="" pursued.="" public="" comments="" on="" this="" interim="" rule="" will="" be="" considered="" in="" determining="" whether="" to="" maintain="" or="" extend="" this="" interim="" rule="" to="" address="" overfishing="" of="" bum="" and="" whm.="" responses="" to="" comments="" will="" be="" provided="" if="" the="" interim="" rule="" is="" revoked,="" modified,="" or="" extended.="" as="" required="" in="" the="" magnuson-stevens="" act,="" an="" amendment="" to="" the="" billfish="" fmp="" addressing="" the="" overfished="" nature="" of="" these="" species="" must="" be="" prepared,="" and="" submitted="" to="" the="" secretary="" of="" commerce="" by="" september="" 30,="" 1998.="" nmfs="" is="" currently="" preparing="" an="" amendment="" to="" the="" billfish="" fmp="" outlining="" a="" rebuilding="" [[page="" 14033]]="" plan="" and="" concomitant="" management="" strategies.="" the="" amendment="" is="" being="" developed="" using="" the="" best="" possible="" science,="" the="" billfish="" ap,="" and="" various="" outreach="" forums="" to="" ensure="" public="" input="" into="" this="" process.="" the="" assistant="" administrator="" for="" fisheries,="" noaa="" (aa),="" has="" determined="" that="" this="" interim="" rule="" is="" necessary="" to="" reduce="" overfishing="" of="" bum="" and="" whm,="" and="" will="" also="" serve="" to="" implement="" 1997="" iccat="" recommendations.="" the="" interim="" rule="" is="" consistent="" with="" the="" magnuson-="" stevens="" act="" and="" other="" applicable="" laws.="" the="" actions="" set="" forth="" in="" this="" interim="" rule="" respond="" to="" the="" over-="" exploitation="" of="" these="" resources="" in="" the="" atlantic="" ocean,="" and="" the="" need="" to="" improve="" current="" monitoring,="" data="" collection,="" and="" reporting="" procedures,="" as="" well="" as="" promote="" the="" release="" of="" live="" billfish.="" the="" united="" states="" is="" also="" obligated,="" under="" atca,="" to="" implement="" iccat="" recommendations="" for="" 1998.="" failure="" to="" implement="" these="" actions="" in="" a="" timely="" manner="" now="" might="" result="" in="" failure="" to="" meet="" iccat="" obligations="" and="" increase="" the="" need="" for="" more="" severe="" restrictions="" in="" the="" future.="" accordingly,="" pursuant="" to="" authority="" set="" forth="" at="" 5="" u.s.c.="" 553(b)(b),="" the="" aa="" finds="" that="" these="" reasons="" constitute="" good="" cause="" to="" waive="" the="" requirement="" to="" provide="" prior="" notice="" and="" the="" opportunity="" for="" prior="" public="" comment,="" as="" such="" procedures="" would="" be="" contrary="" to="" the="" public="" interest.="" further,="" the="" measures="" have="" been="" discussed="" publicly;="" the="" ap="" meeting="" during="" which="" these="" measures="" were="" recommended="" in="" january="" 1998="" was="" open="" to="" the="" public.="" since="" the="" billfish="" tournament="" season="" begins="" in="" march="" 1998,="" the="" need="" to="" implement="" these="" measures="" in="" a="" timely="" manner="" to="" address="" the="" overfishing="" of="" bum="" and="" whm="" constitutes="" good="" cause="" under="" 5="" u.s.c.="" 553(d)(3)="" to="" waive="" the="" 30-day="" delay="" in="" effectiveness.="" nmfs="" makes="" this="" rule="" effective="" march="" 27,="" 1998.="" to="" ensure="" wide="" distribution="" of="" the="" increase="" in="" minimum="" size="" limits="" for="" bum="" and="" whm="" and="" new="" tournament="" notification="" requirements,="" nmfs="" will="" work="" with="" the="" billfish="" ap,="" recreational="" fishing="" organizations,="" sportfishing="" media,="" and="" fishing="" tournaments="" known="" to="" involve="" billfish,="" to="" notify="" affected="" entities="" of="" the="" interim="" measures="" as="" quickly="" as="" practicable.="" in="" addition,="" notice="" will="" be="" provided="" through="" the="" hms="" fax="" network.="" this="" interim="" rule="" has="" been="" determined="" to="" be="" not="" significant="" for="" purposes="" of="" e.o.="" 12866.="" notwithstanding="" any="" other="" provision="" of="" law,="" no="" person="" is="" required="" to="" respond="" to="" nor="" shall="" a="" person="" be="" subject="" to="" a="" penalty="" for="" failure="" to="" comply="" with="" a="" collection="" of="" information="" subject="" to="" the="" requirements="" of="" the="" paperwork="" reduction="" act="" (pra)="" unless="" that="" collection="" of="" information="" displays="" a="" currently="" valid="" office="" of="" management="" and="" budget="" control="" number.="" this="" interim="" rule="" contains="" a="" collection-of-information="" requirement="" subject="" to="" the="" pra.="" fishing="" tournament="" registration="" and="" selective="" reporting="" in="" sec.="" 644.10="" have="" been="" approved="" by="" omb="" under="" control="" number="" 0648-0323="" and="" is="" estimated="" at="" 10="" minutes="" per="" report.="" send="" comments="" regarding="" this="" burden="" estimate="" or="" any="" other="" aspect="" of="" this="" collection-of-information="" requirement="" including="" suggestions="" on="" how="" to="" reduce="" or="" eliminate="" this="" burden="" to="" nmfs="" and="" omb="" (see="" addresses).="" because="" prior="" notice="" and="" an="" opportunity="" for="" public="" comment="" are="" not="" required="" to="" be="" provided="" for="" this="" interim="" rule="" by="" 5="" u.s.c.="" 553,="" or="" any="" other="" law,="" the="" analytical="" requirements="" of="" the="" regulatory="" flexibility="" act,="" 5="" u.s.c.="" 601="" et="" seq.,="" are="" inapplicable.="" list="" of="" subjects="" 15="" cfr="" part="" 902="" reporting="" and="" recordkeeping="" requirements.="" 50="" cfr="" part="" 644="" fisheries,="" fishing,="" reporting="" and="" recordkeeping="" requirements.="" dated:="" march="" 18,="" 1998.="" david="" l.="" evans,="" deputy="" assistant="" administrator="" for="" fisheries,="" national="" marine="" fisheries="" service.="" for="" the="" reasons="" set="" out="" in="" the="" preamble,="" 15="" cfr="" chapter="" ix="" and="" 50="" cfr="" chapter="" vi="" are="" amended="" as="" follows:="" 15="" cfr="" chapter="" ix="" part="" 902--noaa="" information="" collection="" requirements="" under="" the="" paperwork="" reduction="" act:="" omb="" control="" numbers="" 1.="" the="" authority="" citation="" for="" part="" 902="" continues="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" authority:="" 44="" u.s.c.="" 3501="" et="" seq.="" 2.="" in="" sec.="" 902.1,="" paragraph="" (b)="" the="" table="" is="" amended="" by="" adding="" in="" numerical="" order,="" the="" following="" entry="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" sec.="" 902.1="" omb="" control="" numbers="" assigned="" pursuant="" to="" the="" paperwork="" reduction="" act.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" (b)="" *="" *="" *="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" current="" omb="" control="" number="" cfr="" part="" or="" section="" where="" the="" information="" collection="" (all="" requirements="" is="" located="" numbers="" begin="" with="" 0648)="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" 50="" cfr="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" 644.10.......................................................="" -0323="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" ------------------------------------------------------------------------="" 50="" cfr="" chapter="" vi="" part="" 644--atlantic="" billfishes="" 3.="" the="" authority="" citation="" for="" part="" 644="" continues="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" authority:="" 16="" u.s.c.="" 1801="" et="" seq.="" 4.="" in="" part="" 644,="" sec.="" 644.5="" is="" suspended="" and="" sec.="" 644.10="" is="" added,="" effective="" from="" march="" 27,="" 1998="" through="" september="" 23,="" 1998,="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" sec.="" 644.10="" recordkeeping="" and="" reporting.="" a="" person="" conducting="" a="" fishing="" tournament="" involving="" score="" keeping="" or="" awards="" for="" the="" capture="" of="" atlantic="" billfish,="" regardless="" of="" whether="" retained,="" from="" a="" port="" in="" an="" atlantic,="" gulf="" of="" mexico,="" or="" caribbean="" state="" must="" notify="" the="" science="" director="" of="" the="" purpose,="" dates,="" and="" location="" of="" the="" tournament="" by="" letter="" postmarked,="" or="" fax="" dated,="" at="" least="" 4="" weeks="" prior="" to="" commencement.="" if="" selected="" in="" writing="" by="" the="" science="" director="" for="" reporting,="" that="" person="" must="" maintain="" and="" submit="" a="" fishing="" record="" on="" forms="" available="" from="" the="" science="" director="" for="" each="" day="" of="" fishing="" in="" the="" tournament.="" completed="" forms="" must="" be="" submitted="" to="" the="" science="" director="" postmarked="" not="" later="" than="" the="" seventh="" day="" after="" the="" conclusion="" of="" the="" tournament="" and="" must="" be="" accompanied="" by="" a="" copy="" of="" the="" tournament="" rules.="" (a)="" the="" following="" information="" must="" be="" included="" on="" each="" form:="" (1)="" tournament="" name.="" (2)="" recorder's="" name="" and="" telephone="" number.="" (3)="" date="" for="" which="" the="" information="" is="" recorded.="" (4)="" hours="" fished="" (time="" from="" first="" line="" in="" the="" water="" to="" last="" line="" out="" of="" the="" water).="" (5)="" name="" of="" each="" vessel="" fishing="" that="" day.="" (6)="" for="" each="" vessel="" listed,="" the="" species="" of="" each="" billfish="" boated="" or="" released.="" (7)="" the="" weight="" and="" length="" of="" each="" billfish="" brought="" ashore.="" (8)="" the="" name,="" address,="" and="" signature="" of="" the="" tournament="" director.="" (9)="" the="" date="" signed.="" [[page="" 14034]]="" (b)="" in="" addition="" to="" the="" information="" required="" to="" be="" reported="" by="" paragraph="" (a)="" of="" this="" section,="" the="" following="" information="" is="" desired,="" but="" is="" not="" mandatory:="" (1)="" prevailing="" weather="" conditions="" on="" the="" day="" reported,="" such="" as="" wind="" speed="" and="" direction,="" and="" sea="" height="" and="" direction.="" (2)="" whether="" a="" tag="" was="" attached="" before="" the="" billfish="" was="" released.="" 5.="" section="" 644.21="" is="" amended="" by="" suspending="" paragraphs="" (a)="" and="" (d)="" and="" adding="" paragraph="" (e)="" effective="" from="" march="" 27,="" 1998="" through="" september="" 23,="" 1998,="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" sec.="" 644.21="" size="" limits.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" (e)="" the="" following="" minimum="" size="" limits,="" expressed="" in="" terms="" of="" lower="" jaw-fork="" length="" (ljfl),="" apply="" for="" the="" possession="" of="" billfish="" shoreward="" of="" the="" outer="" boundary="" of="" the="" eez,="" regardless="" of="" where="" caught:="" (1)="" blue="" marlin--96="" inches="" (244="" cm)="" (2)="" white="" marlin--66="" inches="" (168="" cm)="" (3)="" sailfish--57="" inches="" (145="" cm)="" [fr="" doc.="" 98-7629="" filed="" 3-23-98;="" 8:45="" am]="" billing="" code="" 3510-22-p="">