[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27133]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 285
[I.D. 100797B]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Opening of the New York Bight fishery.
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SUMMARY: NMFS opens the Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) General category
New York Bight fishery. This action is being taken to extend the season
for the General category, provide for fishing opportunities in the New
York Bight area, and ensure additional collection of biological
assessment and monitoring data.
DATES: Effective October 9, 1997, 1 a.m. local time until December 31,
1997, or until the date, published in the Federal Register, that the
set-aside quota is determined to have been taken.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin, 301-713-2347, or Pat
Scida, 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.
Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 50 CFR
285.22 provide for a subquota of 72 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 October 1 and ending
December 31. Due to an overharvest of 1 mt in the September period
subquota, and the transfer of 70 mt from other categories (62 FR 51608,
October 2, 1997), the October-December period subquota was adjusted to
141 mt. The October-December subquota is divided into a coastwide
subquota of 131 mt and 10 mt for the traditional fall New York Bight
set-aside area, defined as the waters south and west of a straight line
originating at a point on the southern shore of Long Island at
72 deg.27' W. long. (Shinnecock Inlet) and running SSE 150 deg. true,
and north of 38 deg.47' N. lat. (Delaware Bay).
NMFS previously announced the closure of the General category
fishery for the October-December time period effective October 5, 1997,
which published in the Federal Register on October 9, 1997. After
tallying the landings following the closure, NMFS has determined the
remaining unharvested coastwide quota (approximately 10 mt) is
insufficient to warrant a reopening of the coastwide General category
because daily catch rates in September and October have averaged 30 mt.
The New York Bight set-aside of 10 mt will open effective Thursday,
October 9, at 1 a.m. local time. Upon the effective date of the New
York Bight set-aside, persons aboard vessels permitted in the General
category may fish for, retain, possess, or land large medium and giant
ABT only in the New York Bight set-aside area specified above, until
the set-aside quota for that area has been harvested. ABT harvested
from waters outside the defined set-aside area may not be brought into
the set-aside area. Vessels permitted in the Charter/Headboat category,
when fishing for large medium and giant ABT, are subject to the same
rules as General category vessels when the General category is open.
The announcement of the closure date will be filed with the Office
of the Federal Register, and further communicated through the Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) Fax Network, the HMS Information Line, NOAA
weather radio, and Coast Guard Notice to Mariners. Although
notification of closure will be provided as far in advance as possible,
fishermen are encouraged to call the HMS Information Line to check the
status of the fishery before leaving for a fishing trip. The phone
numbers for the HMS Information Line are (301) 713-1279 and (508) 281-
9305. Information regarding the Atlantic tuna fisheries is also
available toll-free through NextLink Interactive, Inc., at (888) USA-
TUNA.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.22 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
Dated: October 8, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-27133 Filed 10-8-97; 3:19 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F