[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 180 (Monday, September 16, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48640-48641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23646]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 091096C]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Recreational Fishery Adjustments

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

ACTION: Fishery reopening; catch limit adjustment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has adjusted the Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) Angling 
category quota by transferring 10 metric tons (mt) from the Inseason 
Reserve. Therefore, the Angling category fishery for school ABT will 
open for the northern area beginning Friday, September 13, at 1 a.m. 
local time and close on Sunday, September 15 at 11:30 p.m. local time. 
The daily catch limit for this reopening is set at one school ABT per 
vessel. This action is being taken to extend scientific data collection 
on school ABT while preventing overharvest of the adjusted subquota for 
the northern area.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The transfer of 10 mt from the Reserve to the Angling 
category, and the transfer of 10 mt from the Incidental longline south 
subcategory to the Reserve are effective September 11, 1996. The 
Angling category fishery for school ABT will open for the northern area 
beginning Friday, September 13, at 1 a.m. local time and close on 
Sunday, September 15 at 11:30 p.m. local time.

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.
    NMFS is required, under Sec. 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.

Angling Category Reopening

    Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 
Sec. 285.22 provide for a quota of 138 mt of school ABT and 100 mt of 
large school/small medium ABT to be harvested from the regulatory area 
by vessels fishing under the Angling category quota during calendar 
year 1996. The school ABT quota is further subdivided into 65 mt for 
states Delaware and south and 73 mt for states New Jersey and north.
    Based on catch estimates obtained through angler interviews, NMFS 
closed the southern school ABT fishery on July 25, 1996 (61 FR 38656, 
July 25, 1996) and the coastwide large school/small medium July 31 (61 
FR 40352, August 2, 1996). Although catch estimates did not indicate 
that the quota was reached, NMFS closed the school ABT Angling category 
fishery for the northern area effective August 17, 1996 (61 FR 43027, 
August 20, 1996) due to estimated overharvests of the school ABT 
southern area subquota and the coastwide large school/small medium ABT 
quota.
    Under the implementing regulations at 50 CFR 285.22(f), the 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), has the authority to 
make adjustments to quotas involving transfers from the Inseason 
Reserve after considering the following factors: (1) The usefulness of 
information obtained from catches of the particular category of the 
fishery for biological sampling and monitoring the status of the stock, 
(2) the catches of the particular gear segment to date and the 
likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no allocation 
is made, (3) the projected ability of the particular gear segment to 
harvest the additional amount of Atlantic bluefin tuna before the 
anticipated end of the fishing season, and (4) the estimated amounts by 
which quotas established for other gear segments of the fishery might 
be exceeded.
    Because scientific information from the northern school ABT fishery 
is needed to broaden the temporal and geographic range of data 
incorporated into the school ABT index of abundance, NMFS transfers 10 
mt from the Inseason Reserve to allow the northern school ABT fishery 
to reopen. Such transfer responds to the four criteria listed above as 
follows: (1) Angling category landings are a major contributor to the 
collection of biological data on this fishery, (2) catch in the Angling 
category to date has precluded the northern area school ABT fishery as 
planned and this fishery cannot occur if no allocation is made, (3) the 
Angling category is projected to harvest the additional amount of 
Atlantic bluefin tuna before the anticipated end of the fishing season, 
and (4) the impact on other gear segments is minimal since sufficient 
quota remains for the incidental category, the purse seine fishery is 
managed under individual quotas and other gear segments of the fishery 
have previously been closed or are subject to predetermined set-asides.

Catch Limit Adjustment

    Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 
Sec. 285.24

[[Page 48641]]

provide for a daily catch limit of school or large school ABT of one 
fish per angler. However, the AA has the authority to make adjustments 
to catch limits to effect maximum utilization of the available quota 
and a fair distribution of fishing opportunities. For this reason the 
catch limit is reduced to one school ABT per vessel for the duration of 
this reopening.
    This action is being taken to extend the season for the Angling 
category, provide for fishing opportunities in the northern fishing 
area, and ensure additional collection of biological assessment and 
monitoring data without exceeding the adjusted quota.

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: September 10, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-23646 Filed 9-11-96; 2:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F