[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 15, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31992-31993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15132]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Parts 285 and 635
[I.D. 060399A]
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 curved fork length) and
one large school or small medium BFT (measuring 47 to less than 73
inches curved fork length) per vessel. This daily retention limit
adjustment is effective June 25 through July 25, 1999, after which it
will revert to one large school or small medium BFT per vessel. This
action is being taken to provide increased fishing opportunities in all
areas without risking overharvest of this category.
DATES: The daily retention limit adjustment is effective 1 a.m., local
time, June 25, 1999, until 11:30 p.m., local time, July 25, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Scida or Sarah McLaughlin, 978-
281-9260.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority
of Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.),
governing the harvest of Atlantic highly migratory species by persons
and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR part 285
and are to be replaced by consolidated regulations at 50 CFR part 635
effective July 1, 1999 (64 FR 29090, May 28, 1999).
Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at
Sec. 285.24 (consolidated at 50 CFR 635.23 effective July 1, 1999)
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 the 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 not exceeded 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 from the recreational fishing community for more advance
notice of retention limit adjustments and greater certainty in planning
for the fishing season.
This daily retention limit adjustment is effective June 25 through
July 25, 1999, after which it will revert to one large school or small
medium BFT per vessel. NMFS will consider adjusting the daily retention
limit once again during late summer and early fall season if BFT have
moved father north to the waters off Rhode Island, New York, and
northern New Jersey, provided that BFT Angling category quota remains
available.
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 an
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.
[[Page 31993]]
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.24(d)(3), and, after June 30,
1999, shall continue in effect 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: June 10, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-15132 Filed 6-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M
