[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35971-35972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17350]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 630

[I.D. 062796B]


Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Drift Gillnet Closure

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

ACTION: Closure.

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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 adjusted second semiannual subquota for 
swordfish that may be harvested by drift gillnet will be reached on or 
before July 17, 1996. This closure is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the quota of swordfish caught by drift gillnet vessels.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 2330 hours, local time, July 17, 1996, through 2400 
hours, local time, November 30, 1996.

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 630.24(b)(3)(ii) establish a 
quota of swordfish that may be harvested by drift gillnet during the 
period July 1 through November 30, 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 
closure

[[Page 35972]]

announcement with the Office of the Federal Register at least 14 days 
before the closure is to become effective.
    The 1996 swordfish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) allows for an 
Atlantic swordfish drift gillnet subquota of 22.5 mt dressed weight 
(49,603.5 lb) for the January 1 to June 30 period, and a subquota of 
23.45 mt dressed weight (51,697.8 lb) for the July 1 to November 30 
period. Our estimates indicate that only approximately 18,000 lb (8.164 
mt) was caught during the first period subquota. The remaining portion 
of the first period subquota will be rolled over to the second period, 
for an adjusted second period subquota of 37.785 mt dressed weight, or 
83,301.3 lb.
    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 November 30 period will be 
reached on or before July 17, 1996. Hence, the drift gillnet fishery 
for Atlantic swordfish is closed effective 2330 hours, local time, July 
17, 1996, through 2400 hours, local time, November 30, 1996.
    During this closure of the drift gillnet fishery: 1) no one aboard 
a vessel using or having onboard a drift gillnet may fish for swordfish 
from the North Atlantic swordfish stock; 2) no more than two swordfish 
per trip may be possessed on board vessel using or having onboard a 
drift gill net 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 2, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-17350 Filed 7-03-96; 11:47 am]
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