[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 23682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11470]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 630
[I.D. 042398A]
South Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Fishery Reopening
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Reopening of fishery.
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SUMMARY: Based on projected landings, NMFS closed the south Atlantic
swordfish fishery effective April 15, 1998. Actual catch reports
tallied since the closure indicate that the south Atlantic swordfish
quota for the period December 1, 1997, to May 31, 1998, has not been
reached. NMFS therefore reopens the South Atlantic swordfish fishery to
allow U.S. fishermen to harvest the remaining 1997 South Atlantic
quota.
DATES: The reopening is effective on April 27, 1998, for vessels
fishing Atlantic swordfish south of 5 deg. N. Lat.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Stevenson, 301-713-2347, or Buck
Sutter, 813-570-5447.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery is
managed under the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Swordfish and
its implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 630 under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C.
971 et seq.). Regulations issued under the authority of ATCA carry out
the recommendations of the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
ICCAT has divided the Atlantic swordfish stock into northern and
southern management units. The south Atlantic swordfish fishery refers
to those swordfish caught in the Atlantic ocean south of 5 deg. N
latitude. ICCAT's Standing Committee on Research and Statistics
estimated that the 1995 fishing mortality rate for south Atlantic
swordfish was greater than the level that would produce maximum
sustainable yield. To prevent further increases in fishing mortality,
ICCAT recommended that contracting parties limit catch of south
Atlantic swordfish to levels harvested in 1993 or 1994, whichever was
greater. On October 24, 1997 (62 FR 55357), consistent with ICCAT's
recommendations, NMFS established a U.S. quota for the for the South
Atlantic swordfish fishery of 188 mt dressed weight(dw), and
implemented the same management measures for the South Atlantic
swordfish fishery as were in place for the North Atlantic swordfish
fishery (i.e., logbook reporting, permitting, minimum size, transfer-
at-sea, etc.).
Regulations governing the south Atlantic swordfish fishery at
Sec. 630.24 divide the annual quota into semiannual quotas of 94 mt for
each of two fishing periods (June 1 through November 30 and December 1
through May 31). NMFS is required, under Sec. 630.25(a)(1), to monitor
landings statistics and, on the basis of these statistics, to project a
date when the catch will equal the quota, and to announce a closure of
the fishery by publication of a notice in the Federal Register.
In 1996, ICCAT adopted compliance measures such that member nations
could be subject to trade restrictions and reduced quotas equal to a
minimum of 125 percent of the excess harvest if North Atlantic
swordfish quotas are repeatedly exceeded. In 1997, ICCAT extended these
compliance measures to the South Atlantic swordfish fishery. Given the
compliance recommendations, it is necessary for NMFS to closely monitor
harvest rate in the south Atlantic swordfish fishery.
Reporting of swordfish landings by U.S.-flagged vessels in Atlantic
waters south of 5 deg. N lat. was not required until the 1997 fishing
year; therefore, past fishing effort was difficult to estimate for the
purpose of projecting a closure date. However, limited logbook data
from 1996 and 1997 indicated that a significant increase in landings
could be expected during February and March. Therefore, NMFS announced
that the directed South Atlantic swordfish fishery would close at 6
p.m., local time, on April 15, 1998. The estimate was conservative to
reduce the risk of exceeding U.S. swordfish quotas, which could invoke
ICCAT penalties. However, actual reported landings of swordfish in the
South Atlantic swordfish fishery through March 31, 1998, in the second
semiannual season total 22.5 mt(49,623 lbs) dw.
The ICCAT quota recommendation for the 1997 fishing year, and the
U.S. regulations to implement it, did not provide for carryover to the
1998 fishing year of any unharvested fish. To provide U.S. vessels
additional fishing opportunity, NMFS reopens the fishery for Atlantic
swordfish south of 5 deg. N. latitude effective Monday, April 27, 1998.
This reopening announcement provides ample time for vessels to travel
to the south Atlantic fishing areas and to fish for swordfish prior to
the end of the 1997 season on May 31, 1998.
Vessel operators who resume fishing for swordfish in the south
Atlantic fishery are reminded that the closure for the north Atlantic
swordfish fishery (63 FR 12687, March 16, 1998) remains in effect
through June 1, 1998. During a closure of the north Atlantic swordfish
fishery, any vessels north of 5 deg. N latitude are limited to an
incidental catch of no more than 15 swordfish per trip. Thus, vessels
fishing in the south Atlantic may not transit north of 5 deg. N. lat.
with more than the incidental catch limit aboard. Vessels harvesting
more than 15 swordfish in the south Atlantic must offload in a port
south of 5 deg. N. lat. or offload in the north after June 1, 1998.
However, swordfish offloaded after June 1 will be counted against the
1998 fishing year. Swordfish offloaded north of 5 deg. N. lat., must be
sold to a permitted swordfish dealer, regardless of ocean area of
catch.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 630.24 and 50 CFR 630.25(a) and
is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 24, 1998
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-11470 Filed 4-24-98; 5:10 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
