[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18615]



[[Page 38037]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 071097B]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Inseason Adjustment

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

ACTION: Catch limit adjustment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS adjusts the daily catch limit for the Angling category 
fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) to four fish per vessel from 
the school size class and one fish per vessel from the large school or 
small medium size class. The duration of the catch limit adjustment is 
limited to August 7, 1997, whereupon the limit will revert to one ABT 
per vessel per day. This action is being taken to ensure reasonable 
fishing opportunities in all geographic areas without risking 
overharvest of this category.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The daily catch limit adjustment is effective 1:00 
a.m., local time, July 11, 1997, until 11:30 p.m., local time, August 
7, 1997.

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.
    Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 
Sec. 285.24 allow for adjustments to the daily catch limits in order to 
provide for maximum utilization of the quota spread over the longest 
possible period of time. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA, may increase or reduce the per angler catch limit for any size 
class bluefin tuna or may change the per angler limit to a per boat 
limit or a per boat limit to a per angler limit.
    ABT landings reported in the southern area (Delaware and states 
south) in January, February and March 1997, were primarily small medium 
bluefin tuna. Given the limited quota available for the ABT Angling 
category and the large size (100-200 lbs) of individual fish landed in 
the winter fishery, NMFS reduced the daily catch limit to one fish per 
vessel. NMFS took further action to close the winter ABT fishery on 
March 2, 1997 to ensure that sufficient quota would remain for the 
summer ABT fisheries. On June 13, 1997, NMFS reopened the Angling 
category fishery but maintained the daily catch limit at one ABT per 
vessel to ensure that the southern area quota would not be exceeded.
    Since the reopening, information collected by NMFS through dockside 
and telephone surveys indicates that the conservative catch limit of 
one fish per day has resulted in greatly reduced fishing pressure. 
Estimated landings for the month of June indicate that approximately 
2.5 metric tons (mt) of school bluefin were landed in the southern area 
(quota of 51 mt) and approximately 2.6 mt of school bluefin were landed 
in the northern area (quota of 57 mt). No landings of large school or 
small medium ABT were reported during June. NMFS has determined that a 
catch limit adjustment is warranted to ensure reasonable fishing 
opportunities in all geographic areas without risking overharvest.
    The daily catch limit is adjusted as follows: No more than four 
school bluefin tuna may be retained each day per Angling category 
vessel. In addition, one ABT per vessel may be landed from the large 
school or small medium size class. This catch limit adjustment is 
effective through August 7, 1997, whereupon the daily limit will revert 
to one ABT per day which may be from the school, large school or small 
medium size class.
    Depending on the level of fishing effort and catch rates of ABT, 
NMFS may determine that an interim closure or additional catch limit 
adjustment is necessary to enhance scientific data collection from all 
geographic areas. Closures or subsequent adjustments to the daily catch 
limit, if any, shall be announced through publication in the Federal 
Register. In addition, anglers may call the Highly Migratory Species 
Information Line at 301-713-1279 or 508-281-9305 for updates on quota 
monitoring and catch limit adjustments. Anglers aboard Charter/Headboat 
and General category vessels, when engaged in recreational fishing for 
school, large school, and small medium ABT, are subject to the same 
rules as anglers aboard Angling category vessels.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.24(d)(3) and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July, 10, 1997.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-18615 Filed 7-10-97; 4:53 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F