[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 227 (Monday, November 27, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58245-58246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28875]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 630

[I.D. 111495D]


Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Bycatch Limit Adjustment

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

ACTION: Inseason action.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This inseason action adjusts the longline bycatch limit for 
Atlantic swordfish. Aboard a vessel using or having aboard a longline 
and not having aboard harpoon gear, no more than six swordfish per trip 
as bycatch may be possessed in the North Atlantic Ocean to avoid 
exceeding the total allowable catch and reducing the potential for 
discard waste.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0001 hours, local time, December 5, 1995, through 2400 
hours, local time, December 31, 1995.

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

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 630.25(c)(2)(ii) establish a 
bycatch of 15 swordfish that may be harvested by longline vessels 
during the non-directed fishery and provide that the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA may modify the bycatch limits based 
upon the length of the directed fishery closure as well as the 
estimated catch per vessel in the non-directed fishery.
    Considering reported landings to date, projections of total catch 
based on recent landings data and estimates of bycatch during the 
directed fishery closure since October 31, 1995, it has been determined 
that with a 15-fish bycatch limit, the bycatch quota for 1995 will be 
reached before December 31, 1995. Under 50 CFR 630.25(a)(2), NMFS is 
required to close the longline bycatch fishery for swordfish when its 
quota is reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a document 
at the Office of the Federal Register at least 14 days before the 
closure is to become effective. Given the prolonged closure in the 
directed longline fishery for Atlantic swordfish, a closure of the 
bycatch fishery would require that all swordfish taken by longliners be 
discarded.
    To avoid a bycatch closure and reduce potential discard waste, the 
longline fishery bycatch for Atlantic swordfish is reduced to six fish 
per trip. By reducing the longline bycatch limit to six fish for the 
month of December, it is projected that it is less likely that the 1995 
bycatch quota will be exceeded.
    During the bycatch fishery, aboard a vessel using or having aboard 
a longline and not having aboard harpoon gear, a person may not fish 
for swordfish from the North Atlantic swordfish stock and no more than 
six swordfish per trip as bycatch 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. This bycatch limit adjustment is effective 
from 0001 hours December 5, 1995, through 2400 hours December 31, 1995. 


[[Page 58246]]
The directed fishery closure remains in effect through December 31, 
1995.

Classification

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

    Dated: November 20, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-28875 Filed 11-21-95; 4:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F