Fishery conservation and management: Northeastern United States fisheries Tuna, Atlantic bluefin fisheries,
[Federal Register: December 30, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 250)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 71792-71793]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30de98-20]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 122198B]
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 Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) in all areas to one fish per vessel, which may be from the school, large school, or small medium size class.. The Angling category trophy fishery for large medium and giant BFT remains at one fish per vessel, per year. This action is being taken to lengthen the fishing season and to ensure reasonable fishing opportunities in all geographic areas without risking overharvest of the quota established for the Angling category fishery.
DATES: Effective 1 a.m. local time on January 1, 1999, until the end of the 1999 winter fishery. NMFS will announce any subsequent catch limit adjustments by publication in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin, 978-281-9146.
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 limit 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 vessel limit or a per vessel limit to a per angler limit. NMFS is responsible for implementing the recommendation by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas to restrict domestic landings of BFT within the assigned country allocation and further to limit the take of school size BFT (measuring 27 to ‹47 inches/69 to ‹119 cm). In addition, it is NMFS' goal to increase the geographical and temporal distribution of data collection and fishing opportunities in the Angling category.
Effective January 1, 1999, NMFS adjusts the daily catch limit as follows: Each Angling category vessel may retain no more than one BFT from the school (measuring 27 to ‹47 inches/69 to ‹119 cm), large school (measuring 47 to ‹59 inches/119 to ‹150 cm), or small medium (measuring 59 to ‹73 inches/150 to ‹185 cm) size class In addition, each Angling category vessel may retain no more than one large medium or giant BFT (measuring 73 inches/185 cm or greater) per year. Catch rates during the first few months of 1998 were low, but catch rates and average sizes of BFT landed during the winter fishery were high in 1996 and 1997. This action is being taken to provide the greatest geographic and temporal range of data collection and fishing opportunities without risking overharvest.
Charter/Headboat category vessels, when engaged in recreational fishing for BFT, are subject to the same rules as Angling category vessels. In addition, anglers aboard permitted vessels may continue to tag and release BFT of all sizes under the NMFS tag-and-release program (50 CFR 285.27).
NMFS will continue to monitor the Angling category fishery closely through
[[Page 71793]]
the Automated Catch Reporting System and the Large Pelagic Survey. All BFT landed under the Angling category quota outside North Carolina must be reported within 24 hours of landing to the NMFS Automated Catch Reporting System by phoning 888-USA-TUNA (888-872-8862). In North Carolina, all BFT must be taken to a reporting station to receive a landing tag before removing the fish from the vessel. For information about the North Carolina Harvest Tagging Program, including reporting station locations, call 800-338-7804.
Subsequent adjustments to the daily catch limit, as necessary, shall be announced through publication in the Federal Register. In addition, anglers may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at 1- 888-USA-TUNA (888-872-8862) or at 978-281-9305 for updates on quota monitoring and catch limit adjustments.
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: December 23, 1998. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries. National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34543Filed12-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
