Fishery conservation and management: Atlantic bluefin tuna,
FR, June 29, 1998 › Rules › National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Federal Register: June 29, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 124)Rules and RegulationsPage 35161-35162From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr29jn98-17
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
I.D. 061898DAtlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Catch limit adjustment.
SUMMARY: NMFS adjusts the daily catch limit for the Angling category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) in the southern area (Delaware and states south) to one fish per angler, with a maximum of three fish per vessel, from the school size class and one fish per vessel from the large school or small medium size class. The duration of the catch limit adjustment is limited to the period of June 26 through July 27, 1998, whereupon the limit will revert to one BFT from the school, large school, or small medium size class per vessel per day. This action is being taken to provide increased fishing opportunities in the southern area without risking overharvest of this category.
DATES: The daily catch limit adjustment is effective 1:00 a.m., local time, June 26, 1998, until 11:30 p.m., local time, July 27, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Scida, 978-281-9260, or Sarah McLaughlin, 301-713-2347.
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 for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at Sec. 285.24 allow for adjustments to the daily catch limits in order to provide for maximum utilization of the quota spread over the longest possible period of time. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, may increase or reduce the per angler catch 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 the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas recommendation to limit the annual catch of school bluefin to 8 percent by weight of the total annual domestic quota, i.e., 1,344 metric tons (mt). In addition, it is NMFS' goal to increase the geographical and temporal distribution of data collection and fishing opportunities for all fishermen in the Angling category.
Since January 1, 1998, NMFS has maintained the daily catch limit at one BFT per vessel to ensure that the southern area quota would not be exceeded and to provide increased fishing opportunities throughout the southern area. Preliminary estimates of southern area landings for January through May 1998 indicate that no more than 5 mt of school BFT (subquota of 51 mt), no more than 10 mt of large school/small medium BFT (subquota of 72 mt),
[Page 35162]and approximately 2.3 mt of large medium/giant BFT (subquota of 5 mt) were landed. Updates to these estimates will be used to effect any further inseason adjustments as necessary. NMFS has determined that a catch limit adjustment is warranted to ensure reasonable fishing opportunities in all geographic areas without risking overharvest.
The daily catch limit for the southern area is adjusted as follows: No more than one BFT per angler, with a maximum of three fish per vessel, from the school size class may be retained each day per Angling category vessel. In addition, one BFT per vessel per day may be landed from the large school or small medium size class. This catch limit adjustment is effective June 26 through July 27, 1998, whereupon the catch limit will revert to one BFT from the school, large school, or small medium size class per vessel per day.
These catch limits have been selected based on catch rates for the 1997 fishing season. Therefore, NMFS will continue to monitor the Angling category fishery closely through the Automated Catch Reporting System 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 catch limit adjustment is necessary to enhance scientific data collection from all geographic areas. Closures or subsequent adjustments to the daily catch 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), 301-713-1279, or 978-281-9305 for updates on quota monitoring and catch limit adjustments. Anglers aboard Charter/Headboat 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 phoning 888-USA-TUNA (888-872-8862), or in North Carolina, to a reporting station. For information about the North Carolina Harvest Tagging Program, including reporting station locations, call 800-338-7804.
Classification
This action is taken under
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
Dated: June 23, 1998. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
FR Doc. 98-17166Filed6-23-98; 5:02 pmBILLING CODE 3510-22-F
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