[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55339-55340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27577]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 100798C]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category

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

ACTION: Reopening of New York Bight fishery.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (BFT) 
General category New York Bight set-aside has not been reached. 
Therefore, NMFS reopens the 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 October 9, 1998, 1 a.m. local time until December 31, 
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: Sarah McLaughlin, 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). The regulatory amendment allowed 
NMFS 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. During the previous opening of the New York Bight fishery, 
effective September 16-30, no landings of large medium or giant BFT 
were reported. Therefore, all 10 mt of the set-aside remain. NMFS 
closed the coastwide General category fishery for October through 
December effective October 5, 1998 (63 FR 54078, October 8, 1998).
    The New York Bight fishery will reopen effective Friday, October 9, 
1998, 1 a.m. local time until December 31, 1998, or until the date that 
the set-aside quota is determined to have been taken, which will be 
published in the Federal Register. Upon the effective date of the New 
York Bight reopening, 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 here, 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 of the New York Bight fishery 
will be filed with the Office of the Federal

[[Page 55340]]

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: October 8, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-27577 Filed 10-8-98; 3:53 pm]
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