[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21576]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 080498B]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna; Closure
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: General category closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the 1998 Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT)
June-August period General category subquota will be attained by August
8, 1998. Therefore, the General category fishery for June-August will
be closed effective at 11:30 p.m. on August 8, 1998. This action is
being taken to prevent overharvest of the General category June-August
period subquota.
DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m. local time on August 8, 1998, through
August 31, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Scida, 978-281-9260, or Sarah
McLaughlin, 301-713-2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) governing
the harvest of BFT 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.
General Category Closure
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 BFT will equal the quota and publish a Federal
Register announcement to close the applicable fishery.
Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 50 CFR
285.22 provide for a subquota of 388 mt of large medium and giant BFT
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 projects that this
subquota will be reached by August 8, 1998. Therefore, fishing for,
retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant BFT by vessels
in the General category must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time August 8,
1998. The General category will reopen September 1, 1998, with a quota
of 194 mt for the September period. If necessary, the September
subquota will be adjusted based on actual landings from the current
period. While the General category is open, General category permit
holders are restricted from all BFT fishing, including tag-and-release
fishing, on restricted-fishing days. However, for the remainder of
August, previously designated restricted-fishing days are waived;
therefore, General category permit holders may tag and release BFT
while the General category is closed, prior to the September 1 opening.
The intent of this closure is to prevent overharvest of the June-
August period subquota established for the General category.
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 6, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21576 Filed 8-7-98; 10:38 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
