[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45764-45765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23117]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 082597B]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Catch limit adjustment.
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SUMMARY: NMFS adjusts the daily catch limit for the Angling category
fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) in the northern area (New
Jersey and states north) to two fish per vessel from the school size
class and three fish per vessel from the large school or small medium
size class. The duration of the catch limit adjustment is limited to
the period of August 29 through September 12, 1997, whereupon the
northern area catch limit will revert to one ABT per vessel per day.
This action is being taken to ensure reasonable fishing opportunities
in the northern area without risking overharvest of this category.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The daily catch limit adjustment is effective 1:00
a.m., local time, August 29, 1997, until 11:30 p.m., local time,
September 12, 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.
Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at
Sec. 285.24 allow for adjustments to the daily catch limits in order to
provide for maximum utilization of the quota spread over the longest
possible period of time. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, may increase or reduce the per angler catch limit for any size
class bluefin tuna or may change the per angler limit to a per boat
limit or a per boat limit to a per angler limit.
NMFS closed the winter Angling category fishery on March 2, 1997 to
ensure that sufficient quota would remain for the summer ABT fisheries.
On June 13, 1997, NMFS reopened the Angling category fishery but
maintained the daily catch limit at one ABT per vessel to ensure that
the southern area quota would not be exceeded. Effective July 11, 1997,
NMFS adjusted the daily catch limit for all areas to four school
bluefin tuna and one large school or small medium ABT each day per
Angling category vessel. The daily catch limit was again reduced to one
ABT per vessel on August 8 to preserve the remaining quota for the
traditional fall fisheries.
Information collected by NMFS through dockside and telephone
surveys indicates that about 20 metric tons (mt) of school ABT and 60
mt of large school/small medium ABT remain of the northern area
subquota. In order to provide for a reasonable opportunity to harvest
the Angling category quota and collect scientific information needed to
monitor the ABT stock, NMFS has determined that a catch limit
adjustment is warranted.
The daily catch limit is adjusted as follows: No more than two
school bluefin tuna (measuring 27 to 47 inches) may be retained each
day per Angling category vessel. In addition, three ABT per vessel may
be landed from the large school or small medium size class (measuring
47 to 73 inches). This catch limit adjustment is effective through
September 12, 1997, whereupon the daily limit will revert to one ABT
per day, which may be from the school, large school or small medium
size class.
Depending on the level of fishing effort and catch rates of ABT,
NMFS may determine that an interim closure or additional catch limit
adjustment is necessary during or following this period. Closures or
subsequent adjustments to the daily catch limit, if any, shall be
announced through publication in the Federal Register. In addition,
anglers may call the Highly Migratory Species Information Line at 301-
713-1279 or 508-281-9305 for updates on quota monitoring and catch
limit adjustments. Anglers aboard Charter/Headboat and General category
vessels, when authorized to engage in recreational fishing for school,
large school, and small medium ABT, are subject to the same rules as
anglers aboard Angling category vessels.
Note that the fishery for school, large school, and small medium
ABT in the southern area closed effective August 11, 1997 (62 FR 44423,
August 21, 1997), and is therefore not affected by this catch limit
adjustment.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.24(d)(3) and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
[[Page 45765]]
Dated: August 26, 1997.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-23117 Filed 8-26-97; 2:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
