[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35971-35972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17350]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 630
[I.D. 062796B]
Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Drift Gillnet Closure
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS closes the drift gillnet fishery for swordfish in the
Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. NMFS
has determined that the adjusted second semiannual subquota for
swordfish that may be harvested by drift gillnet will be reached on or
before July 17, 1996. This closure is necessary to prevent exceeding
the quota of swordfish caught by drift gillnet vessels.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 2330 hours, local time, July 17, 1996, through 2400
hours, local time, November 30, 1996.
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 630.24(b)(3)(ii) establish a
quota of swordfish that may be harvested by drift gillnet during the
period July 1 through November 30, each year. Under 50 CFR 630.25(a),
NMFS is required to close the drift gillnet fishery for swordfish when
its quota is reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a
closure
[[Page 35972]]
announcement with the Office of the Federal Register at least 14 days
before the closure is to become effective.
The 1996 swordfish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) allows for an
Atlantic swordfish drift gillnet subquota of 22.5 mt dressed weight
(49,603.5 lb) for the January 1 to June 30 period, and a subquota of
23.45 mt dressed weight (51,697.8 lb) for the July 1 to November 30
period. Our estimates indicate that only approximately 18,000 lb (8.164
mt) was caught during the first period subquota. The remaining portion
of the first period subquota will be rolled over to the second period,
for an adjusted second period subquota of 37.785 mt dressed weight, or
83,301.3 lb.
Based on the current level of swordfish catch by drift gillnets and
historic data on catch per set for July, NMFS has determined that the
drift gillnet quota for the July 1 through November 30 period will be
reached on or before July 17, 1996. Hence, the drift gillnet fishery
for Atlantic swordfish is closed effective 2330 hours, local time, July
17, 1996, through 2400 hours, local time, November 30, 1996.
During this closure of the drift gillnet fishery: 1) no one aboard
a vessel using or having onboard a drift gillnet may fish for swordfish
from the North Atlantic swordfish stock; 2) no more than two swordfish
per trip may be possessed on board vessel using or having onboard a
drift gill net 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.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR 630.25(a) and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Dated: July 2, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-17350 Filed 7-03-96; 11:47 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
