[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 21, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43184-43185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21242]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 081596C]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Fishery Closure

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) 
General category quota for the August period will be attained by August 
17, 1996. Therefore, the General category fishery for the August period 
will be closed effective at 11:30 p.m. on August 17, 1996. This action 
is being taken to prevent overharvest of the adjusted 193 metric tons 
(mt) subquota for the August period.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The General category closure for the August period is 
effective 11:30 p.m. local time on August 17, 1996, through August 31, 
1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kelly, 301-713-2347, or Mark 
Murray-Brown, 508-281-9260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) governing 
the harvest of ABT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction 
are found at 50 CFR part 285. Section 285.22 subdivides the U.S. quota 
recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas among the various domestic fishing categories.

General Category Closure

    NMFS is required, under 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 ABT will equal the quota and publish a Federal 
Register announcement to close the applicable fishery.
    Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 50 CFR 
285.22 provide for a quota of 186 mt of large

[[Page 43185]]

medium and giant ABT to be harvested from the regulatory area by 
vessels fishing under the General category quota during the period 
beginning August 1 and ending August 31. Due to an underage of 7 mt in 
the June/July subquota, the August subquota was adjusted to 193 mt. 
Based on reported catch and effort, NMFS projects that this revised 
quota will be reached by August 17, 1996. Therefore, fishing for, 
retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant ABT under the 
General category quota must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time August 17, 
1996. The General category will reopen September 1, 1996 with a quota 
of 159 mt for the September period, plus any underage from the August 
period.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.20(b) and 50 CFR 285.22 and 
is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: August 15, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-21242 Filed 8-15-96; 5:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F