[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 49873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24991]
[[Page 49873]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 091198A]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Opening of New York Bight fishery.
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SUMMARY: NMFS opens the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (BFT) General category
New York Bight fishery. This action is being taken to provide for
General category fishing opportunities in the New York Bight area only
and to ensure additional collection of biological assessment and
monitoring data.
DATES: Effective September 16, 1998, 1 a.m. local time until September
30, 1998, or until the date that the set-aside quota is determined to
have been taken, which will be published in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Uitterhoeve 301-713-2347, or Pat
Scida, 978-281-9260.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) governing
the harvest of BFT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction
are found at 50 CFR part 285. Implementing regulations at 50 CFR 285.22
subdivide the U.S. quota recommended by the International Commission
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas among the various domestic
fishing categories.
Section 285.22(a)(3) was amended on May 21, 1998 (63 FR 27862) to
permit implementation of the set-aside for the traditional fall New
York Bight fishery when the coast-wide General category fishery has
been closed in any quota period. The New York Bight set-aside area is
defined as the waters south and west of a straight line originating at
a point on the southern shore of Long Island at 72 deg.27' W. long.
(Shinnecock Inlet) and running SSE 150 deg. true, and north of
38 deg.47' N. lat. (Delaware Bay). This regulatory amendment allows for
more flexibility in making the quota of 10 mt set aside for this area
available, to coincide with the presence of BFT in the Mud Hole area.
Previously, on August 8, 1998, NMFS closed the General category for the
June-August period, and on September 8, 1998, NMFS closed the General
category fishery for September. The New York Bight fishery will open
effective Wednesday, September 16, 1998, 1 a.m. local time until
September 30, 1998, or until the date, that the set-aside quota is
determined to have been taken, which will be published in the Federal
Register, if necessary. Upon the effective date of the New York Bight
opening, persons aboard vessels permitted in the General category may
fish for, retain, possess, or land large medium and giant BFT only in
the New York Bight set-aside area specified above, until the set-aside
quota for that area has been harvested. BFT harvested from waters
outside the defined set-aside area may not be brought into the set-
aside area. Vessels permitted in the Charter/Headboat category, when
fishing for large medium and giant BFT, are subject to the same rules
as General category vessels when the General category is open.
The announcement of the closure date will be filed with the Office
of the Federal Register, and further communicated through the Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) Fax Network, the HMS Information Line, NOAA
weather radio, and Coast Guard Notice to Mariners. Although
notification of the closure will be provided as far in advance as
possible, fishermen are encouraged to call the HMS Information Line to
check the status of the fishery before leaving for a fishing trip. The
phone numbers for the HMS Information Line are (301) 713-1279 and (978)
281-9305. Information regarding the Atlantic tuna fisheries is also
available toll-free through NextLink Interactive, Inc., at (888) USA-
TUNA.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.22 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
Dated: September 14, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-24991 Filed 9-14-98; 4:47 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
