[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 152 (Thursday, August 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42416-42417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20758]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 080197B]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Fishery Closure

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

ACTION: Closure.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the 1997 Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) 
June-August period General category subquota will be attained by August 
3, 1997. Therefore, the General category fishery for June-August will 
be closed effective at 11:30 p.m. on August 3, 1997. This action is 
being taken to prevent overharvest of the General category June-August 
period subquota.

DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m. local time on August 3, 1997, through 
August 31, 1997.

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


[[Page 42417]]


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 (ICCAT) among the various domestic fishing categories.

General Category Closure

    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.
    Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 50 CFR 
285.22 provide for a subquota of 374 mt of large medium and giant ABT 
to be harvested from the regulatory area by vessels permitted in the 
General category during the period beginning June 1 and ending August 
31. Based on reported catch and effort, NMFS projects that this 
subquota will be reached by August 3, 1997. Therefore, fishing for, 
retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant ABT by vessels 
in the General category must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time August 3, 
1997. The General category will reopen September 1, 1997 with a quota 
of 187 mt for the September period. If necessary, the September 
subquota will be adjusted based on actual landings from the current 
period.
    The intent of this closure is to prevent overharvest of the June-
August period subquota established for the General category.

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 1, 1997.

Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-20758 Filed 8-1-97; 4:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F