[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 144 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18851]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[Docket No. 960416112-6164-02; ID# 071996B]
RIN 0648-AI29
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the fishery for school Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT)
conducted by Angling category fishermen in the waters off Delaware and
states south. Closure of this fishery is necessary because the annual
quota of 65 metric tons (mt) of school ABT allocated for this
subcategory in waters off Delaware and states south is projected to be
attained by July 25, 1996. The intent of this action is to prevent
overharvest of the quota established for this fishery.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The closure is effective from 2330 hours local time
July 25 through December 31, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Hogarth, 301-713-2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations promulgated under the authority
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) regulating
the harvest of ABT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction
are found at 50 CFR part 285.
Section 285.22(d)(1) of the regulations provides for an annual
quota of 65 mt of school ABT to be harvested from waters off Delaware
and states south by individuals in the Angling category. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), is authorized under
Sec. 285.20(b)(1) to monitor the catch and landing statistics and, on
the basis of those statistics, to project a date when the catch of ABT
will equal any quota under Sec. 285.22. The AA is further authorized
under Sec. 285.20(b)(1) to prohibit fishing for, or retention of,
Atlantic bluefin tuna by those fishing in the category subject to the
quota when the catch of tuna equals the quota established under
Sec. 285.22. The AA has determined, based on the reported catch and
estimated fishing effort, that the annual quota of school ABT for those
fishing in waters off Delaware and states south will be attained by
July 25, 1996. Fishing for, catching, possessing, or landing any school
ABT in the closed area must cease at 2330 hours local time on July 25,
1996. In addition, landing any school ABT in or from the closed area is
prohibited.
However, anglers may continue to tag and release fish less than 47
inches (119 cm) curved fork length under the NMFS tag-and-release
program (50 CFR 285.27). The Angling category fishery for bluefin tuna
in the large school and small medium classes (47 inches to less than 59
inches (119 cm to less than 150 cm), and 59 inches to less than 73
inches (150 cm to less than 185 cm) curved fork length, respectively)
is regulated under a separate quota and is not affected by this
closure. Anglers, therefore, may continue to fish for these larger size
classes. The 73 metric ton quota of school ABT for the waters off New
Jersey and states north is not affected by this closure, and remains
open.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR 285.20(b)(1) and complies with
E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
Dated: July 19, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-18851 Filed 7-19-96; 4:21 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
