[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 12, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35869-35870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17013]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 630

[I.D. 062095D]


Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Drift Gillnet Closure

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

ACTION: Closure of the Atlantic swordfish drift gillnet fishery.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the drift gillnet fishery for swordfish in the 
Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. NMFS 
has determined that the second semi-annual quota for swordfish that may 
be harvested by drift gillnet will be reached on or before July 14, 
1995. This closure is necessary to prevent exceeding the quota of 
swordfish caught by drift gillnet vessels.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 2330 hours, local time, July 14, 1995, through 2400 
hours, local time, December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald G. Rinaldo, 301-713- 2347.


[[Page 35870]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic swordfish fishery is managed 
under the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq). and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 
U.S.C. 971 et seq.).
    The implementing regulations at 50 CFR 630.24(b)(1)(i)(A) establish 
a quota of swordfish that may be harvested by drift gillnet during the 
period July 1 through December 31, each year. Under 50 CFR 630.25(a), 
NMFS is required to close the drift gillnet fishery for swordfish when 
its quota is reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a 
document with the Office of the Federal Register at least 8 days before 
the closure is to become effective.
    Based on the current level of swordfish catch by drift gillnets and 
historic data on catch per set for July, NMFS has determined that the 
drift gillnet quota for the July 1 through December 31 period will be 
reached on or before July 14, 1995. Hence, the drift gillnet fishery 
for Atlantic swordfish is closed effective 2330 hours, local time, July 
14, 1995, through 2400 hours, local time, December 31, 1995.
    During this closure of the drift gillnet fishery, on board a vessel 
using or having aboard a drift gillnet: a person may not fish for 
swordfish from the North Atlantic swordfish stock; and no more than two 
swordfish per trip may be possessed in the North Atlantic Ocean, 
including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, north of 5 deg. N. 
lat., or landed in an Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, or Caribbean coastal 
state.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 630.25(a) and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

    Dated: July 6, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17013 Filed 7-7-95; 8:56 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F