[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 49873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24991]



[[Page 49873]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 091198A]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category

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

ACTION: Opening of New York Bight fishery.

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SUMMARY: NMFS opens the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (BFT) General category 
New York Bight fishery. This action is being taken to provide for 
General category fishing opportunities in the New York Bight area only 
and to ensure additional collection of biological assessment and 
monitoring data.

DATES: Effective September 16, 1998, 1 a.m. local time until September 
30, 1998, or until the date that the set-aside quota is determined to 
have been taken, which will be published in the Federal Register.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) governing 
the harvest of BFT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction 
are found at 50 CFR part 285. Implementing regulations at 50 CFR 285.22 
subdivide the U.S. quota recommended by the International Commission 
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas among the various domestic 
fishing categories.
    Section 285.22(a)(3) was amended on May 21, 1998 (63 FR 27862) to 
permit implementation of the set-aside for the traditional fall New 
York Bight fishery when the coast-wide General category fishery has 
been closed in any quota period. The New York Bight set-aside area is 
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). This regulatory amendment allows for 
more flexibility in making the quota of 10 mt set aside for this area 
available, to coincide with the presence of BFT in the Mud Hole area. 
Previously, on August 8, 1998, NMFS closed the General category for the 
June-August period, and on September 8, 1998, NMFS closed the General 
category fishery for September. The New York Bight fishery will open 
effective Wednesday, September 16, 1998, 1 a.m. local time until 
September 30, 1998, or until the date, that the set-aside quota is 
determined to have been taken, which will be published in the Federal 
Register, if necessary. Upon the effective date of the New York Bight 
opening, persons aboard vessels permitted in the General category may 
fish for, retain, possess, or land large medium and giant BFT only in 
the New York Bight set-aside area specified above, until the set-aside 
quota for that area has been harvested. BFT 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 BFT, 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 the 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 (978) 
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: September 14, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-24991 Filed 9-14-98; 4:47 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F