[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 144 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18851]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[Docket No. 960416112-6164-02; ID# 071996B]
RIN 0648-AI29


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the fishery for school Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) 
conducted by Angling category fishermen in the waters off Delaware and 
states south. Closure of this fishery is necessary because the annual 
quota of 65 metric tons (mt) of school ABT allocated for this 
subcategory in waters off Delaware and states south is projected to be 
attained by July 25, 1996. The intent of this action is to prevent 
overharvest of the quota established for this fishery.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The closure is effective from 2330 hours local time 
July 25 through December 31, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Hogarth, 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations promulgated under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) regulating 
the harvest of ABT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction 
are found at 50 CFR part 285.
    Section 285.22(d)(1) of the regulations provides for an annual 
quota of 65 mt of school ABT to be harvested from waters off Delaware 
and states south by individuals in the Angling category. The Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), is authorized under 
Sec. 285.20(b)(1) to monitor the catch and landing statistics and, on 
the basis of those statistics, to project a date when the catch of ABT 
will equal any quota under Sec. 285.22. The AA is further authorized 
under Sec. 285.20(b)(1) to prohibit fishing for, or retention of, 
Atlantic bluefin tuna by those fishing in the category subject to the 
quota when the catch of tuna equals the quota established under 
Sec. 285.22. The AA has determined, based on the reported catch and 
estimated fishing effort, that the annual quota of school ABT for those 
fishing in waters off Delaware and states south will be attained by 
July 25, 1996. Fishing for, catching, possessing, or landing any school 
ABT in the closed area must cease at 2330 hours local time on July 25, 
1996. In addition, landing any school ABT in or from the closed area is 
prohibited.
    However, anglers may continue to tag and release fish less than 47 
inches (119 cm) curved fork length under the NMFS tag-and-release 
program (50 CFR 285.27). The Angling category fishery for bluefin tuna 
in the large school and small medium classes (47 inches to less than 59 
inches (119 cm to less than 150 cm), and 59 inches to less than 73 
inches (150 cm to less than 185 cm) curved fork length, respectively) 
is regulated under a separate quota and is not affected by this 
closure. Anglers, therefore, may continue to fish for these larger size 
classes. The 73 metric ton quota of school ABT for the waters off New 
Jersey and states north is not affected by this closure, and remains 
open.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 285.20(b)(1) and complies with 
E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 19, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-18851 Filed 7-19-96; 4:21 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F