[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25671]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 091897A]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the fishery for school, large school, and small
medium Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) conducted by Angling category
fishermen in the waters off New Jersey and states north. Closure of
this fishery is necessary because the annual quota of 57 metric tons
(mt) of school ABT and 80 mt of large school/small medium ABT allocated
for this subcategory in waters off New Jersey and states north is
projected to be attained by October 1, 1997. The intent of this action
is to prevent overharvest of the quotas established for this fishery.
DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m. local time on October 1, 1997, through
December 31, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin, 301-713-2347, or
Mark Murray-Brown, 508-281-9260.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations promulgated under the authority
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) regulating
the harvest of ABT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction
are found at 50 CFR part 285.
Section 285.22(d)(1) of the regulations provides for annual quotas
of 57 mt of school ABT and 80 mt of large school/small medium ABT to be
harvested from waters off New Jersey and states north by individuals in
the Angling category. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
(AA), is authorized under Sec. 285.20(b)(1) to monitor the catch and
landing statistics and, on the basis of those statistics, to project a
date when the catch of ABT will equal any quota under Sec. 285.22. The
AA is further authorized under Sec. 285.20(b)(1) to prohibit fishing
for, or retention of, Atlantic bluefin tuna by those fishing in the
category subject to the quota when the catch of tuna equals the quota
established under Sec. 285.22.
The AA has determined, based on the reported catch and estimated
fishing effort, that the annual quota of school, large school, and
small medium ABT for those fishing in waters off New Jersey and states
north will be attained by October 1, 1997. Fishing for, catching,
possessing, or landing any school, large school, or small medium ABT
(measuring 27 inches to less than 73 inches (69 cm to less than 185
cm)) in the closed area must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time on October
1, 1997. The southern area (the waters off Delaware and states south)
fishery for school, large school, and small medium ABT was previously
closed for the 1997 season (62 FR 44423, August 21, 1997; 62 FR 35447,
July 1, 1997).
The fishery for large medium and giant ABT (measuring 73 inches or
greater) is not affected by this closure and remains open in all areas
until further notice, subject to the trophy fish limit of one-per-
vessel-per-year. Such large medium or giant ABT must be reported to the
nearest NMFS enforcement office as required under Sec. 285.24. In North
Carolina, trophy fish must be reported to the Coast Guard at 919-995-
6403. Anglers should verify that the trophy category remains open by
calling the NMFS 24-hour Information Line at 301-713-1279 prior to each
fishing trip. In addition, anglers may continue to tag and release ABT
of all sizes under the NMFS tag-and-release program (50 CFR 285.27).
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: September 23, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-25671 Filed 9-23-97; 4:59 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
