[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42855-42856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20249]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[I.D. 072999A]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin
Tuna
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Adjustment of General category daily retention limit on
previously designated restricted-fishing days.
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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT)
General category restricted-fishing day (RFD)
[[Page 42856]]
schedule should be adjusted, i.e., certain RFDs should be waived, in
order to allow for maximum utilization of the General category June-
August subquota. Therefore, NMFS increases the daily retention limit
from zero to one large medium or giant BFT on the following previously
designated RFDs for 1999: August 8, 9, 15, and 16.
DATES: Effective August 2, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Scida or Brad McHale, 978-281-
9260.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) and the
Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) governing the harvest of
BFT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50
CFR part 635. General category effort controls (including time-period
subquotas and RFDs) are specified annually under Secs. 635.23(a) and
635.27(a). The 1999 General category effort controls were implemented
June 1, 1999 (64 FR 29806, June 3, 1999).
Adjustment of Daily Retention Limit for Selected Dates
Under Sec. 635.23 (a)(4), NMFS may increase or decrease the daily
retention limit of large medium and giant BFT over a range from zero
(on RFDs) to a maximum of three per vessel to allow for maximum
utilization of the quota for BFT. Based on a review of dealer reports,
daily landing trends, and the availability of BFT on the fishing
grounds, NMFS has determined that adjustment to the RFD schedule, and
therefore an increase of the daily retention limit for selected
previously designated RFDs, is necessary. Therefore, NMFS adjusts the
daily retention limit for August 8, 9, 15, and 16, 1999, to one large
medium or giant BFT per vessel. NMFS has selected these days in order
give adequate advanced notice to fishery participants and NMFS
enforcement.
The intent of this adjustment is to allow for maximum utilization
of the June-August subquota (specified under Sec. 635.27(a)) by General
category participants in order to help achieve optimum yield in the
General category fishery, to collect a broad range of data for stock
monitoring purposes, and to be consistent with the objectives of the
HMS FMP.
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 635.23(a)(4) and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 2, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-20249 Filed 8-2-99; 5:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
