[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45764-45765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23117]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 082597B]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

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) in the northern area (New 
Jersey and states north) to two fish per vessel from the school size 
class and three fish per vessel from the large school or small medium 
size class. The duration of the catch limit adjustment is limited to 
the period of August 29 through September 12, 1997, whereupon the 
northern area catch limit will revert to one ABT per vessel per day. 
This action is being taken to ensure reasonable fishing opportunities 
in the northern area without risking overharvest of this category.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The daily catch limit adjustment is effective 1:00 
a.m., local time, August 29, 1997, until 11:30 p.m., local time, 
September 12, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Rogers, 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.
    NMFS closed the winter Angling category 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. Effective July 11, 1997, 
NMFS adjusted the daily catch limit for all areas to four school 
bluefin tuna and one large school or small medium ABT each day per 
Angling category vessel. The daily catch limit was again reduced to one 
ABT per vessel on August 8 to preserve the remaining quota for the 
traditional fall fisheries.
    Information collected by NMFS through dockside and telephone 
surveys indicates that about 20 metric tons (mt) of school ABT and 60 
mt of large school/small medium ABT remain of the northern area 
subquota. In order to provide for a reasonable opportunity to harvest 
the Angling category quota and collect scientific information needed to 
monitor the ABT stock, NMFS has determined that a catch limit 
adjustment is warranted.
    The daily catch limit is adjusted as follows: No more than two 
school bluefin tuna (measuring 27 to 47 inches) may be retained each 
day per Angling category vessel. In addition, three ABT per vessel may 
be landed from the large school or small medium size class (measuring 
47 to 73 inches). This catch limit adjustment is effective through 
September 12, 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 during or following this period. 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 authorized to engage in recreational fishing for school, 
large school, and small medium ABT, are subject to the same rules as 
anglers aboard Angling category vessels.
    Note that the fishery for school, large school, and small medium 
ABT in the southern area closed effective August 11, 1997 (62 FR 44423, 
August 21, 1997), and is therefore not affected by this catch limit 
adjustment.

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.


[[Page 45765]]


    Dated: August 26, 1997.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-23117 Filed 8-26-97; 2:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F