[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2075-2076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-754]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 010600A]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin 
Tuna

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes for the 1999 fishing year (June 1, 1999, through 
May 31, 2000) the Angling category fishery for large medium and giant 
Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) in the southern area (the waters off 
Delaware and states south). Fishing for, retaining, possessing, or 
landing large medium and giant BFT (measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved 
fork length or greater) under the Angling category quota is prohibited 
effective at 11:30 p.m., January 8, 2000. This action is being taken to 
prevent overharvest of the Angling category southern area subquota for 
large medium and giant (trophy) BFT.


[[Page 2076]]


DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m. on January 8, 2000, through May 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 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.
    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 reached. On and after the 
effective date and time of such notification, for the remainder of the 
fishing year or for a specified period as indicated in the notice, 
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 notice.
    The 1999 BFT quota specifications issued pursuant to Sec. 635.27 
set a quota of 4 mt of large medium and giant BFT (measuring 73 inches 
(185 cm) curved fork length or greater) to be harvested in the southern 
area (the waters off Delaware and states south) by vessels permitted in 
the Angling category or Charter/Headboat category during the 1999 
fishing year (64 FR 29806, June 3, 1999). The southern area trophy BFT 
subquota was subsequently adjusted to 4.8 mt (64 FR 48111, September 2, 
1999). Based on reported landings of trophy BFT in the southern area, 
i.e., through the North Carolina Harvest Tagging Program and the 
Automated Landings Reporting System, and recent effort in the waters 
off North Carolina, NMFS projects that this subquota will be reached by 
January 8, 2000. Therefore, through May 31, 2000, fishing for, 
retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant BFT by vessels 
in the Angling or Charter/Headboat category in the southern area must 
cease at 11:30 p.m., January 8, 2000.
    The intent of this closure is to prevent overharvest of the Angling 
category southern area trophy BFT subquota. Anglers are reminded that 
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-USA-TUNA (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 program, 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 Secs. 635.27(a) and 635.28 (a)(1) and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: January 7, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-754 Filed 1-7-00; 4:49 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F