[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21576]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 080498B]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna; Closure

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

ACTION: General category closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the 1998 Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) 
June-August period General category subquota will be attained by August 
8, 1998. Therefore, the General category fishery for June-August will 
be closed effective at 11:30 p.m. on August 8, 1998. 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 8, 1998, through 
August 31, 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. 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.

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 BFT 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 388 mt of large medium and giant BFT 
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 8, 1998. Therefore, fishing for, 
retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant BFT by vessels 
in the General category must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time August 8, 
1998. The General category will reopen September 1, 1998, with a quota 
of 194 mt for the September period. If necessary, the September 
subquota will be adjusted based on actual landings from the current 
period. While the General category is open, General category permit 
holders are restricted from all BFT fishing, including tag-and-release 
fishing, on restricted-fishing days. However, for the remainder of 
August, previously designated restricted-fishing days are waived; 
therefore, General category permit holders may tag and release BFT 
while the General category is closed, prior to the September 1 opening.
    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 6, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21576 Filed 8-7-98; 10:38 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F