[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 21, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43184-43185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21242]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 081596C]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Fishery Closure
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT)
General category quota for the August period will be attained by August
17, 1996. Therefore, the General category fishery for the August period
will be closed effective at 11:30 p.m. on August 17, 1996. This action
is being taken to prevent overharvest of the adjusted 193 metric tons
(mt) subquota for the August period.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The General category closure for the August period is
effective 11:30 p.m. local time on August 17, 1996, through August 31,
1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kelly, 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.
General Category Closure
NMFS is required, under 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 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 quota of 186 mt of large
[[Page 43185]]
medium and giant ABT to be harvested from the regulatory area by
vessels fishing under the General category quota during the period
beginning August 1 and ending August 31. Due to an underage of 7 mt in
the June/July subquota, the August subquota was adjusted to 193 mt.
Based on reported catch and effort, NMFS projects that this revised
quota will be reached by August 17, 1996. Therefore, fishing for,
retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant ABT under the
General category quota must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time August 17,
1996. The General category will reopen September 1, 1996 with a quota
of 159 mt for the September period, plus any underage from the August
period.
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 15, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-21242 Filed 8-15-96; 5:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
