[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 165 (Friday, August 23, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 43518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21466]



[[Page 43518]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 285

[Docket No. 960816226-6226-01; I.D. 080596C]
RIN 0648-AJ04


Options for the Angling Category Season for the Atlantic Bluefin 
Tuna Fishery

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

ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is considering whether a change in the opening date of 
the Angling category season for the Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) fishery 
from January 1 to June 1 of each year should be proposed. NMFS is also 
considering whether an amendment to the regulations governing the ABT 
fishery should be proposed to enable the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries (AA) to close and reopen the Angling category in identified 
areas in order to ensure equitable fishing opportunities.

DATES: Written comments on this ANPR must be received on or before 
September 23, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to William Hogarth, 
Acting Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/CM4), 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Historically, the Angling category fishing season for ABT has 
commenced January 1 of each year. Since 1992, the school size 
subcategory has been divided between a ``north'' and a ``south'' area 
quota, with the division at Delaware Bay. In the last few years, 
harvests of ABT during winter months have increased, causing the 
southern portion of the school bluefin quota and the annual quota of 
large school and small medium ABT to be reached earlier than usual. As 
a result, fishing opportunities for fishermen further north are greatly 
diminished.
    Implementation of a June 1 opening may help ensure fishing 
opportunities to fishermen participating in the more northern ABT 
fisheries. This date would coincide with the commencement of the 
General category season. Fishing for ABT from January 1 to May 31 would 
be allowed under the tag and release program only.
    Current regulations state that the AA is required to monitor catch 
and landings statistics and close a fishery when it is projected that 
the quota has been attained. Another regulation enables the AA to 
adjust the daily catch limit in order to effect a fair allocation of 
fishing opportunities. However, since the regulations do not provide 
for geographic or temporal distribution, there is no way to assure 
equitable fishing opportunities to all areas.
    The regulations could be amended to allow the AA, upon determining 
that variations in seasonal distribution, abundance, or migration 
patterns of ABT, and the catch rate, may prevent fishermen in an 
identified area from harvesting a portion of the quota, to close the 
Angling category and reopen it at a later date, when the bluefin have 
migrated to the identified area.

Request for Comments

    NMFS requests comments on a change in the opening date of the 
Angling category season to June 1 and on a provision that would allow 
the AA to close and reopen the Angling category in identified areas in 
order to ensure equitable fishing opportunities. Comments received on 
this ANPR would serve as the basis for drafting proposed regulations 
for any changes to the Angling category season.

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

    Dated: August 16, 1996.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-21466 Filed 8-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F