[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20088]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 17, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 081194E]

 

Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Bluefin Tuna

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure of the General category fishery.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the 1994 General category quota, 
minus a 65 metric tons (mt) set aside for a late season fishery 
beginning September 15th, will be taken by August 14, 1994. Therefore, 
the General category fishery will be closed effective at 0001 hours on 
Monday, August 15, 1994. This action is being taken to prevent 
overharvest of the quota established for this fishery while providing 
an opportunity for areas that have not yet had an ample opportunity to 
harvest a fair share of the quota beginning September 15, 1994.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0001 hours on August 15, 1994, through September 14, 
1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kelly, 301-713-2347, or Raymond 
E. Baglin, 508-281-9140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) governing 
the harvest of Atlantic bluefin tuna by persons and vessels subject to 
U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR part 285. Section 285.22 
subdivides the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas recommended U.S. quota among the various domestic 
fishing categories.
    Implementing regulations for the Atlantic Tuna Fisheries at 50 CFR 
285.22(a) provide for an annual quota of 531 mt of large medium and 
giant Atlantic bluefin tuna to be harvested from the Regulatory Area by 
vessels permitted in the General category. Of this amount, 65 mt are 
set aside for a late season fishery beginning September 15. The 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, is required under 
Sec. 285.20(b)(1) to monitor the catch and landing statistics and, on 
the basis of these statistics, to project a date when the catch of 
Atlantic bluefin tuna will equal the annual quota minus 65 mt, and to 
publish a Federal Register document stating that fishing for, 
retaining, possessing, or landing Atlantic bluefin tuna under the 
early-season quota must cease on that date at a specified hour, and not 
recommence until September 15th, whereupon a quota equal to the 
difference between the annual quota and the estimated catch prior to 
September 15th will become available.
    The General category has taken approximately 364 mt of its 531 mt 
quota as of August 10, 1994. While NMFS had calculated an average catch 
in August of 12 mt per day, industry contacts have informed NMFS that 
catch per day has increased to 17 mt per day or more. Atlantic bluefin 
tuna are still abundant off of Maine and Massachusetts, the primary 
commercial fishing grounds, and have not migrated offshore and further 
south. Effort by General category vessels remains high.
    Based on the landing reports, it is projected that the quota of 
Atlantic bluefin tuna allocated for the General category, minus a 65 mt 
set aside amount for the late season fishery will be reached by August 
14, 1994. Fishing for, retention of, possessing, or landing large 
medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna by vessels in the General 
category must cease by 0001 hours August 15, 1994. The intent of this 
action is to prevent overharvest of the quota established for this 
fishery while helping continue traditional late summer and early fall 
fisheries and providing a fishing opportunity in areas that have not 
yet had an ample opportunity to harvest a fair share of the quota.
    Beginning September 15, 1994, in areas to be described and under 
conditions to be specified in a future document to be filed with the 
Office of the Federal Register, vessels permitted in the General 
category may resume fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna at a catch rate 
of one large medium or giant bluefin tuna per day per vessel, until the 
set aside allocation has been taken.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.20(b) and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.

    Dated: August 11, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-20088 Filed 8-11-94; 4:47 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F