[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 170 (Thursday, September 2, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48112-48113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22818]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[I.D. 082399A]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin
Tuna
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Retention limit adjustment.
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SUMMARY: NMFS adjusts the daily retention limit for the Angling
category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) in all areas to two
school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches (69 to less than 119
cm) curved fork length) and one large school or small medium BFT
(measuring 47 to less than 73 inches (119 to less than 150 cm) curved
fork length) per vessel. This daily retention limit adjustment is
effective September 1 through October 6, 1999, after which it will be
one large school or small medium BFT per vessel. This action is being
taken to provide increased fishing and data collection opportunities in
all areas without risking overharvest of this category.
DATES: The daily retention limit adjustment is effective 1 a.m., local
time, September 1, 1999, until 11:30 p.m., local time, October 6, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Scida or Sarah McLaughlin, 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.
Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at
Sec. 635.23 allow for adjustments to the daily retention limits in
order to provide for maximum utilization of the quota spread over the
longest possible period of time. NMFS may increase or reduce the per
angler retention limit for any size class BFT or may change the per
angler limit to a per boat limit or a per boat limit to a per angler
limit.
NMFS is responsible for implementing a recommendation of the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
to limit the catch of school BFT to no more than 8 percent by weight of
the total domestic quota over each 4-consecutive-year period. NMFS is
implementing this ICCAT recommendation through annual and inseason
adjustments to the school BFT landings and school BFT reserve
categories, as necessary, and through the establishment of a school BFT
reserve (64 FR 29090, May 28, 1999; 64 FR 29806, June 3, 1999). The
recent ICCAT recommendation allows NMFS more flexibility to make
interannual adjustments for overharvests and underharvests, provided
that the 8-percent landings limit is met over the applicable 4-
consecutive-year period. This approach provides NMFS with the
flexibility to enhance fishing opportunities and the collection of
information on a broad range of BFT size classes and responds to
requests
[[Page 48113]]
from the recreational fishing community for more advance notice of
retention limit adjustments and greater certainty in planning for the
fishing season.
Since July 26, 1999, NMFS has maintained the daily retention limit
at one large school or small medium BFT per vessel. In the announcement
for the daily retention limit effective June 25 through July 25, 1999
(64 FR 31992, June 15, 1999), NMFS announced the intention to adjust
the daily retention limit once again during late summer and early fall
season when BFT have moved further north to the waters off Rhode
Island, New York, and northern New Jersey, contingent upon the
availability of BFT Angling category quota. NMFS has received comment
from mid-Atlantic fishermen, earlier this year and since the June daily
retention limit adjustment, that the implementation of an increased
daily retention limit over a date-certain period is preferable to a
longer season with a lower daily retention limit as it facilitates the
scheduling of fishing trips, particularly charter trips. NMFS is
encouraged by the positive feedback surrounding the June adjustment
and, as information received from fishermen indicates that BFT are
available in the northern area (New Jersey and north), has determined
that a late-season daily retention limit adjustment is warranted to
ensure reasonable fishing opportunities in all geographic areas without
risking overharvest.
Landings of the North Carolina winter fishery BFT are deducted from
the bridge period in a BFT quota adjustment action published elsewhere
in this Federal Register issue. Preliminary Large Pelagic Survey
estimates of landings for June through August 15, 1999, indicate that
approximately 3.2 metric tons (mt) of school BFT and approximately 39
mt of large school/small medium BFT have been landed; reported landings
of large medium and giant BFT total approximately 3.1 mt.
NMFS adjusts the BFT Angling category daily retention limit for all
areas to two school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches (69 to
less than 119 cm) curved fork length) and one large school or small
medium BFT (measuring 47 to less than 73 inches (119 to less than 150
cm) curved fork length) per vessel.
This daily retention limit adjustment is effective September 1
through October 6, 1999, after which it will be one large school or
small medium BFT per vessel. The daily retention limit and the duration
of daily retention limit adjustment have been selected based on an
examination of past catch and effort rates. NMFS will continue to
monitor the Angling category fishery closely through the Automated
Catch Reporting System, the state harvest tagging programs in North
Carolina and Maryland, and the Large Pelagic Survey. Depending on the
level of fishing effort and catch rates of BFT, NMFS may determine that
an interim closure or additional retention limit adjustment is
necessary to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing
opportunities in, all geographic areas. Additionally, NMFS may
determine that an allocation from the school BFT reserve is warranted
to further fishery management objectives.
Closures or subsequent adjustments to the daily retention limit, if
any, shall be announced through publication in the Federal Register. In
addition, anglers may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at 888-
USA-TUNA (888-872-8862) or 978-281-9305 for updates on quota monitoring
and retention limit adjustments. Anglers aboard Charter/Headboat
category vessels, when engaged in recreational fishing for school,
large school, and small medium BFT, are subject to the same rules as
anglers aboard Angling category vessels. All BFT landed under the
Angling category quota must be reported within 24 hours of landing to
the NMFS Automated Catch Reporting System by calling 888-USA-TUNA (888-
872-8862) or, if landed in the states of North Carolina or Maryland, to
a reporting station prior to offloading. Information about these state
harvest tagging programs, including reporting station locations, can be
obtained in North Carolina by calling (800) 338-7804, and in Maryland
by calling (410) 213-1531.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 635.23(b)(3). This action is
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 27, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-22818 Filed 8-27-99; 5:03 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
