[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 12, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21135]
[[Page 43126]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 080597D]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Fishery Reopening
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Reopening.
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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the 1997 Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT)
June-August period General category subquota has not been reached.
Therefore, NMFS reopens the General category fishery for large medium
and giant ABT for all areas for one additional day. This action is
being taken to allow full harvest of the General category June-August
period subquota.
DATES: Effective 1 a.m. local time through 11:30 p.m. local time on
Friday, August 8, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Rogers, 301-713-2347, or Mark
Murray-Brown, 508-281-9260.
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. Section 285.22 subdivides the U.S. quota
recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas among the various domestic fishing categories.
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 any quota and publish a Federal
Register announcement to close the applicable fishery.
General Category Reopening
Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 50 CFR
285.22 provide for a subquota of 374 mt of large medium and giant ABT
to be harvested from the regulatory area by vessels permitted in the
General category during the period beginning June 1 and ending August
31. Based on reported catch and effort, NMFS filed an action with the
Office of the Federal Register on August 1, 1997, to close the General
category fishery on August 3, 1997. NMFS has determined that, due to
lower than expected fishing effort and landings, the full 374 mt has
not been taken. Recent average catch rates indicate that the remaining
subquota could be taken in one fishing day. Therefore, NMFS is
reopening the General category fishery for large medium and giant ABT
effective 1 a.m., August 8, 1997, and closing 11:30 p.m., August 8,
1997. Fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or
giant ABT by vessels in the General category may not occur prior to 1
a.m., August 8, 1997, and must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time August 8,
1997. Closure of this one day fishery will be strictly enforced. The
General category will reopen September 1, 1997 with a quota of 187 mt
for the September period. If necessary, the September subquota will be
adjusted based on actual landings from the current period.
The intent of this action is to allow full attainment of the June-
August period subquota established for the General category as
specified in the Atlantic bluefin tuna effort controls final rule (62
FR 38939, July 21, 1997).
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.20(b) and 50 CFR 285.22 and
is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
Dated: August 5, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-21135 Filed 8-6-97; 4:11pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
