Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone— Tuna, Atlantic bluefin fisheries,

[Federal Register: September 17, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 180)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 49668]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr17se98-9]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 091198C]

Atlantic 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 northern area (New Jersey and states north). The duration of the catch limit adjustment is limited to September 18 through September 27, 1998, whereupon the northern area daily catch limit will revert to one large school or small medium BFT per vessel. This action is being taken to provide increased fishing opportunities in the northern area without risking overharvest of this category.

DATES: The daily catch limit adjustment is effective 1 a.m., local time, September 18, 1998, until 11:30 p.m., local time, September 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 (ATCA, 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 ICCAT recommendation to limit the annual catch of school BFT 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.

Between January 1, 1998, and July 15, 1998, NMFS maintained the northern area (north of 38 deg.47' N. lat.) daily catch limit at one school, large school, or small medium BFT per vessel (measuring 27 to less than 73 inches (69 to less than 185 cm)). Effective July 16, 1998, NMFS adjusted the daily catch limit to one large school or small medium BFT (measuring 47 to less than 73 inches (119 to less than 185 cm)) per vessel. NMFS has determined, based on preliminary 1998 northern area catch estimates of landings to date and on the availability of BFT in the northern area, that a catch limit adjustment is warranted to provide the greatest geographic and temporal range of fishing opportunities without risking overharvest.

The daily catch limit for the northern area is adjusted as follows: No more than three school, large school, or small medium BFT (measuring 27 to less than 73 inches (69 to less than 185 cm)) per vessel, of which no more than one may be a school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches(69 to less than 119 cm)). This daily catch limit adjustment is effective September 18 through September 27, 1998, whereupon the daily catch limit will revert to one large school or small medium BFT (measuring 47 to less than 73 inches (119 to less than 185 cm)).

These catch limits have been selected based on catch rates for the 1998 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 an additional catch limit adjustment is necessary to enhance scientific data collection from the northern area. 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).

Pursuant to Sec. 285.7, and under the authority of ATCA, NMFS has authorized fisheries biologists from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to conduct joint research with NMFS comparing the effects of circle and straight hooks on BFT and Atlantic yellowfin tuna (YFT). A combined total of 200 BFT and/or YFT (averaging 40 lb.) may be collected off the Massachusetts and Rhode Island coasts under this authorization, which is effective June 29 through October 31, 1998. Assuming that all 200 tunas collected are BFT, approximately 3.6 mt would be deducted from the northern area Angling category subquota, specifically from the allocation for school BFT, measuring less than 47 inches (119 cm).

Classification

This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.24(d)(3) 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. 98-24917Filed9-14-98; 2:29 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F