97-20758. Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Fishery Closure  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 152 (Thursday, August 7, 1997)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 42416-42417]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-20758]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    
    50 CFR Part 285
    
    [I.D. 080197B]
    
    
    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 1997 Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) 
    June-August period General category subquota will be attained by August 
    3, 1997. Therefore, the General category fishery for June-August will 
    be closed effective at 11:30 p.m. on August 3, 1997. 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 3, 1997, through 
    August 31, 1997.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Rogers, 301-713-2347, or Mark 
    Murray-Brown, 508-281-9260.
    
    
    [[Page 42417]]
    
    
    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 (ICCAT) 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 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 subquota of 374 mt of large medium and giant ABT 
    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 3, 1997. Therefore, fishing for, 
    retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant ABT by vessels 
    in the General category must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time August 3, 
    1997. The General category will reopen September 1, 1997 with a quota 
    of 187 mt for the September period. If necessary, the September 
    subquota will be adjusted based on actual landings from the current 
    period.
        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 1, 1997.
    
    Bruce Morehead,
    Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
    Fisheries Service.
    [FR Doc. 97-20758 Filed 8-1-97; 4:48 pm]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
8/3/1997
Published:
08/07/1997
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Closure.
Document Number:
97-20758
Dates:
Effective 11:30 p.m. local time on August 3, 1997, through August 31, 1997.
Pages:
42416-42417 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
I.D. 080197B
PDF File:
97-20758.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 285