[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 241 (Thursday, December 16, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70198-70199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32546]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 120199C]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin 
Tuna

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

ACTION: Retention limit adjustment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS adjusts the daily retention limit for the Angling 
category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) in all areas to one 
large school or small medium BFT (measuring 47 to less than 73 inches 
(119 to less than 185 cm) curved fork length) per vessel. The Angling 
category trophy retention limit for large medium and giant BFT remains 
at one fish per vessel, per fishing year. This action is being taken to 
lengthen the fishing season and to ensure reasonable fishing 
opportunities in all geographic areas without risking overharvest of 
the quota established for the Angling category fishery.

DATES: The daily retention limit adjustment is effective 1 a.m., local 
time, January 1, 2000, until May 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Scida or Sarah McLaughlin, 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.
    Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 
Sec. 635.23 allow for adjustments to the daily retention limits in 
order to provide for maximum utilization of the quota over the longest 
possible period of time. NMFS may increase or reduce the per angler 
retention limit for any size class BFT or may change the per angler 
limit to a per boat limit or a per boat limit to a per angler limit.
    Since October 7, 1999, NMFS has maintained the daily retention 
limit at one large school or small medium BFT per vessel. In order to 
maintain the current daily retention limit through the end of the 1999 
fishing year (May 31, 2000), NMFS must announce a daily retention limit 
adjustment since the current retention limit is valid only through 
December 31, 1999 (64 FR 10576, March 5, 1999).
    Preliminary Large Pelagic Survey estimates of landings from the 
beginning of the 1999 fishing year (June 1, 1999) through November 7, 
1999, indicate that approximately 34 metric tons (mt) of school BFT and 
approximately 44 mt of large school/small medium BFT have been landed; 
reported landings of large medium and giant BFT total approximately 1 
mt.
    NMFS adjusts the BFT Angling category daily retention limit for all 
areas one large school or small medium BFT (measuring 47 to less than 
73 inches (119 to less than 185 cm) curved fork length) per vessel. In 
addition, each Angling category vessel may retain no more than one 
large medium or giant BFT (measuring 73 inches (185 cm or greater) per 
year. Landing rates during the first few months of 1998 and 1999 were 
low, but landing rates during the winter fishery were high in 1996 and 
1997. This action is being taken to provide the greatest geographic and 
temporal range of data collection and fishing opportunities without 
risking overharvest.
    This daily retention limit adjustment is effective January 1 
through May 31, 2000. The daily retention limit and the duration of 
daily retention limit adjustment have been selected based on an 
examination of past catch and effort rates. NMFS will continue to 
monitor the Angling category fishery closely through the Automated 
Landings Reporting System, the North Carolina harvest tagging program, 
and the Large Pelagic Survey. Depending on the level of fishing effort 
and catch rates of BFT, NMFS may determine that an interim closure or 
additional retention limit adjustment is necessary to enhance 
scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all 
geographic areas. Additionally, NMFS may determine that an allocation 
from the school BFT reserve is warranted to further fishery management 
objectives.
    If NMFS determines, based on landings statistics and other 
available information, that a BFT quota in any category or, as 
appropriate, subcategory has been exceeded or has not been reached, 
NMFS shall subtract the overharvest from, or add the underharvest to, 
that quota category for the following fishing year, provided that the 
total of the adjusted category quotas and the reserve is consistent 
with a recommendation of ICCAT regarding country quotas, the take of 
school BFT, and the allowance for dead discards.
    Closures or subsequent adjustments to the daily retention limit, if 
any, shall be

[[Page 70199]]

announced through publication in the Federal Register. In addition, 
anglers may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at (888) 872-8862 
or (978) 281-9305 for updates on quota monitoring and retention limit 
adjustments. Anglers aboard Charter/Headboat category vessels, when 
engaged in recreational fishing for school, large school, and small 
medium BFT, are subject to the same rules as anglers aboard Angling 
category vessels. All BFT landed under the Angling category quota must 
be reported within 24 hours of landing to the NMFS Automated Landings 
Reporting System by calling (888) 872-8862 or, if landed in the state 
of North Carolina, to a reporting station prior to offloading. 
Information about the North Carolina harvest tagging programs, 
including reporting station locations, can be obtained by calling (800) 
338-7804. In addition, anglers aboard permitted vessels may continue to 
tag and release BFT of all sizes under a tag-and-release program, 
provided the angler tags all BFT so caught, regardless of whether 
previously tagged, with conventional tags issued or approved by NMFS, 
returns such fish to the sea immediately after tagging with a minimum 
of injury, and reports the tagging, and, if the BFT was previously 
tagged, the information on the previous tag (50 CFR 635.26).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 635.23(b)(3). This action is 
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: December 9, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-32546 Filed 12-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F