[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32697-32698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15953]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 060397D]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Recreational Fishery Adjustments

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

ACTION: Fishery reopening.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS reopens the Angling category fishery for school, large 
school, and small medium Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) for all areas. The 
Angling category fishery for school, large school, and small medium ABT 
will open beginning June 13, 1997. The Angling category fishery for 
large school and small medium ABT will close on June 27, 1997 at 11:30 
p.m. local time in the southern area (Delaware and states south) only. 
The northern Angling category fishery for large school and small medium 
ABT, and the Angling category fishery for school ABT in all areas, will 
remain open until further notice. The daily catch limit for the 
reopening remains at one ABT per vessel. This action is being taken to 
extend scientific data collection on ABT and to further domestic 
management objectives for the Atlantic tuna fisheries, while preventing 
overharvest of the regional Angling category subquotas.

DATES: The Angling category fishery for school, large school, and small 
medium ABT will open beginning June 13, 1997. The Angling category 
fishery for large school and small medium ABT will close in the 
southern area only (Delaware and states south) on June 27, 1997, at 
11:30 p.m. local time. The northern Angling category fishery for large 
school and small medium ABT, and the Angling category fishery for 
school ABT in all areas, will remain open until the effective date of a 
closure, which will be announced in the Federal Register.

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.
    On February 21, 1997, NMFS amended the regulations governing the 
Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) fisheries to provide authority for NMFS to 
close and/or reopen all or part of the Angling category in order to 
provide for further distribution of fishing opportunities throughout 
the species range (62 FR 8634, February 26, 1997). The regulatory 
amendments were necessary to increase the geographic and temporal scope 
of data collection from the scientific monitoring quota established for 
the United States. Additionally, the authority for interim closures 
facilitates a more equitable geographic and temporal distribution of 
fishing opportunities for all fishermen in the Angling category, thus 
furthering

[[Page 32698]]

domestic management objectives for the Atlantic tuna fisheries.
    On March 2, 1997, based on catch estimates obtained through angler 
interviews, NMFS closed the Angling category for school, large school, 
and small medium ABT in all areas (62 FR 9376, March 3, 1997). NMFS 
announced the possibility of reopening the Angling category fishery 
upon the determination that the bluefin had migrated further north, and 
that the effective date of reopening would be published in the Federal 
Register.

Angling Category Reopening

    NMFS has determined, based on catch reports from anglers fishing 
for other large pelagic species such as yellowfin tuna and anglers 
fishing for bluefin tuna under the catch and release program, that 
bluefin tuna have begun to migrate northward.
    NMFS is limiting to 2 weeks the opening period for large school and 
small medium ABT in the southern area (waters off Delaware and states 
south (south of 38 deg.47' N. lat.)) based on preliminary estimates of 
catches in North Carolina, the available quota, and expected catch 
rates of large school and small medium ABT. Fishing for, catching, 
possessing, or landing any large school or small medium ABT in the 
southern area must cease by 11:30 p.m. local time on June 27, 1997. 
After the closure, anglers aboard a vessel holding an Atlantic tunas 
permit may continue to fish for ABT 47 inches (119 cm) or greater under 
the NMFS tag and release program (50 CFR 285.27). The northern Angling 
category fishery for large school and small medium ABT, and the Angling 
category fishery for school ABT in all areas, will remain open until 
further notice.

Catch Limit

    NMFS previously adjusted the daily catch limit for the Angling 
category fishery for ABT to one fish per vessel (61 FR 66618, December 
18, 1996), which may be from the school, large school, or small medium 
size class (measuring 27-73''); due to increased participation in the 
fishery and anticipated catch rates, this daily catch limit remains in 
effect. Additionally, the catch limit for trophy size class ABT (large 
medium and giant ABT, measuring 73'' and greater) remains at one per 
vessel per year.
    This action is being taken to facilitate a geographic and temporal 
distribution of fishing opportunities for all fishermen in the Angling 
category, thus furthering domestic management objectives for the 
Atlantic tuna fisheries. This action also facilitates data collection 
from the scientific monitoring quota established for the United States 
over the greatest geographic and temporal range.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.20(b)(1) and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: June 12, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-15953 Filed 6-13-97; 12:29 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F