[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 194 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54577-54578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26099]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 092899G]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin 
Tuna

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 1999 Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) 
coastwide General category quota will be attained by October 3, 1999. 
Therefore, the coastwide General category fishery will be closed 
effective 11:30 p.m. on October 3, 1999. This action is being taken to 
prevent overharvest of the coastwide General category quota of 644 
metric tons (mt).

DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m. local time on October 3, 1999, through May 
31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad McHale 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.) and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 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. Section 
635.27 subdivides the U.S. BFT quota recommended by the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas among the various 
domestic fishing categories. The General category landings quota, 
including time-period subquotas and the New York Bight set-aside, are 
specified annually as required under Sec. 635.27(a)(1). The 1999 
General category quota and effort control specifications were issued 
June 1, 1999 (64 FR 29806, June 3, 1999).

General Category Closure

    NMFS is required, under Sec. 635.28 (a)(1), to file with the Office 
of the Federal Register for publication notification of closure when a 
BFT quota is reached, or is projected to be

[[Page 54578]]

reached. On and after the effective date and time of such closure 
notification, for the remainder of the fishing year or for a specified 
period as indicated in the notification, fishing for, retaining, 
possessing, or landing BFT under that quota category is prohibited 
until the opening of the subsequent quota period or until such date as 
specified in the notification.
    The 1999 BFT quota specifications issued pursuant to Sec. 635.27 
set a coastwide General category quota of 644 mt of large medium and 
giant BFT to be harvested from the regulatory area during the 1999 
fishing year. Based on reported landings and effort, NMFS projects that 
this quota will be reached by October 3, 1999. Therefore, fishing for, 
retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant BFT by persons 
aboard vessels in the General or Charter/Headboat categories must cease 
at 11:30 p.m. local time October 3, 1999. The intent of this closure is 
to prevent overharvest of the coastwide quota established for the 
General category.
    The 1999 quota specifications also established a set-aside quota of 
10 mt for vessels fishing in the New York Bight area. NMFS will 
announce the opening date of the General category New York Bight 
fishery through a separate Federal Register document when it is 
determined that large medium and giant BFT are available in the New 
York Bight area. Allowing a few days transition between the closure of 
the coastwide fishery and the opening of the New York Bight fishery 
reduces concerns regarding enforcement of regulations applicable to 
that area, i.e., that upon the effective date of the set-aside fishery, 
fishing for, retaining, or landing large medium or giant BFT is 
authorized only within the set-aside area.
    General category permit holders may tag and release BFT while the 
General category is closed, subject to the requirements of the tag-and-
release program at Sec. 635.26. Vessels permitted in the Charter/
Headboat category that are still eligible for the Angling category 
trophy fish allowance under Sec. 635.23(c)(1)(2) may land one large 
medium or giant BFT prior to May 31, 2000.

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 635.28(a) and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 1, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-26099 Filed 10-1-99; 4:29 pm]
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