[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35161-35162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17166]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 061898D]


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 (BFT) in the southern area (Delaware 
and states south) to one fish per angler, with a maximum of three 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 the period of June 26 through July 27, 
1998, whereupon the limit will revert to one BFT from the school, large 
school, or small medium size class per vessel per day. This action is 
being taken to provide increased fishing opportunities in the southern 
area without risking overharvest of this category.

DATES: The daily catch limit adjustment is effective 1:00 a.m., local 
time, June 26, 1998, until 11:30 p.m., local time, July 27, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Scida, 978-281-9260, or Sarah 
McLaughlin, 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) governing 
the harvest of BFT 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 BFT or may change the per angler limit to a per boat limit or a 
per boat limit to a per angler limit.
    NMFS is responsible for implementing the International Commission 
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas recommendation to limit the 
annual catch of school bluefin to 8 percent by weight of the total 
annual domestic quota, i.e., 1,344 metric tons (mt). In addition, it is 
NMFS' goal to increase the geographical and temporal distribution of 
data collection and fishing opportunities for all fishermen in the 
Angling category.
    Since January 1, 1998, NMFS has maintained the daily catch limit at 
one BFT per vessel to ensure that the southern area quota would not be 
exceeded and to provide increased fishing opportunities throughout the 
southern area. Preliminary estimates of southern area landings for 
January through May 1998 indicate that no more than 5 mt of school BFT 
(subquota of 51 mt), no more than 10 mt of large school/small medium 
BFT (subquota of 72 mt),

[[Page 35162]]

and approximately 2.3 mt of large medium/giant BFT (subquota of 5 mt) 
were landed. Updates to these estimates will be used to effect any 
further inseason adjustments as necessary. 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 for the southern area is adjusted as follows: 
No more than one BFT per angler, with a maximum of three fish per 
vessel, from the school size class may be retained each day per Angling 
category vessel. In addition, one BFT per vessel per day may be landed 
from the large school or small medium size class. This catch limit 
adjustment is effective June 26 through July 27, 1998, whereupon the 
catch limit will revert to one BFT from the school, large school, or 
small medium size class per vessel per day.
    These catch limits have been selected based on catch rates for the 
1997 fishing season. Therefore, NMFS will continue to monitor the 
Angling category fishery closely through the Automated Catch Reporting 
System and the Large Pelagic Survey. Depending on the level of fishing 
effort and catch rates of BFT, 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 Atlantic Tunas Information Line at 888-USA-TUNA 
(888-872-8862), 301-713-1279, or 978-281-9305 for updates on quota 
monitoring and catch limit adjustments. Anglers aboard Charter/Headboat 
vessels, when engaged in recreational fishing for school, large school, 
and small medium BFT, are subject to the same rules as anglers aboard 
Angling category vessels. All BFT landed under the Angling category 
quota must be reported within 24 hours of landing to the NMFS Automated 
Catch Reporting System by phoning 888-USA-TUNA (888-872-8862), or in 
North Carolina, to a reporting station. For information about the North 
Carolina Harvest Tagging Program, including reporting station 
locations, call 800-338-7804.

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: June 23, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-17166 Filed 6-23-98; 5:02 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F