[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 21, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 51079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24566]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 091599A]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin 
Tuna

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

ACTION: Adjustment of General category daily retention limit on 
previously designated restricted-fishing days.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) 
General category restricted-fishing day (RFD) schedule should be 
adjusted, i.e., certain RFDs should be waived, in order to allow for 
maximum utilization of the General category quota. Therefore, NMFS 
increases the daily retention limit from zero to one large medium or 
giant BFT on the following previously-designated RFDs for 1999: 
September 19, 20, 26, and 27, and October 1.

DATES: Effective September 16, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Scida or Brad McHale, 978-281-
9260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) governing the harvest of 
BFT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50 
CFR part 635. General category effort controls (including time-period 
subquotas and RFDs) are specified annually under Secs. 635.23(a) and 
635.27(a). The 1999 General category effort controls were implemented 
June 1, 1999 (64 FR 29806, June 3, 1999).

Adjustment of Daily Retention Limit for Selected Dates

    Under Sec. 635.23 (a)(4), NMFS may increase or decrease the daily 
retention limit of large medium and giant BFT over a range from zero 
(on RFDs) to a maximum of three per vessel to allow for maximum 
utilization of the quota for BFT.
    Based on a review of dealer reports, daily landing trends, and the 
availability of BFT on the fishing grounds, NMFS has determined that 
adjustment to the RFD schedule, and, therefore, an increase of the 
daily retention limit for selected, previously designated RFDs, is 
necessary. Therefore, NMFS adjusts the daily retention limit for 
September 19, 20, 26, and 27, and October 1, to one large medium or 
giant BFT per vessel. October 1 was designated as an RFD to facilitate 
enforcement of the October reopening after an anticipated closure in 
September. However, since the September subquota will most likely not 
be reached, it is no longer necessary for October 1 to be an RFD. Note 
that NMFS is not waiving the ``market-smart'' RFDs on Wednesdays in 
September that correspond to Japanese market closures (September 22 and 
29).
    The intent of this adjustment is to allow for maximum utilization 
of the General category quota (specified under Sec. 635.27(a)) in order 
to help achieve optimum yield in the fishery, to collect a broad range 
of data for stock monitoring purposes, and to be consistent with the 
objectives of the HMS FMP.

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 635.23(a)(4) and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 16, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24566 Filed 9-16-99; 2:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F