[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 162 (Thursday, August 21, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44423-44424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22258]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 081597B]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fishery
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)
[[Page 44424]]
conducted by Angling category fishermen in the waters off Delaware and
states south. Closure of this fishery is necessary because the annual
quota of 51 metric tons (mt) of school ABT allocated for this
subcategory in waters off Delaware and states south is projected to be
attained by August 18, 1997. The intent of this action is to prevent
overharvest of the quota established for this fishery.
DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m. local time on August 18, 1997, through
December 31, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin, 301-713-2347, or
Mark Murray-Brown, 508-281-9260.
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 51 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
August 18, 1997. Fishing for, catching, possessing, or landing any
school ABT (measuring 27 inches to less than 47 inches (69 cm to less
than 119 cm)) in the closed area must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time on
August 18, 1997.
However, anglers may continue to tag and release ABT of all sizes
under the NMFS tag-and-release program (50 CFR 285.27). The southern
area Angling category fishery for bluefin tuna in the large school and
small medium size 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) was closed effective
July 20, 1997 (62 FR 35447, July 1, 1997). Therefore, the southern area
Angling category fishery for school, large school, and small medium ABT
is now closed for the season.
The fishery for school, large school, small medium, and trophy ABT
(measuring greater than 73 inches), for the waters off New Jersey and
states north is not affected by this closure, and remains open until
further notice at a catch limit of one fish per vessel per day.
A small amount of trophy ABT remains in the southern area; pending
attainment of the annual quota for trophy fish, large medium or giant
ABT (73 inches (185 cm) total curved fork length or greater) may still
be landed under the Angling category subject to the trophy fish limit
of one per vessel per year. Such large medium or giant ABT must be
reported to the nearest NMFS enforcement office as required under
Sec. 285.24. In North Carolina, trophy fish must be reported to the
Coast Guard at 919-995-6403. Anglers should verify that the trophy
category remains open by calling the NMFS 24-hour Information Line at
301-713-1279 prior to each fishing trip.
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 18, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-22258 Filed 8-18-97; 2:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
