[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 147 (Monday, July 31, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46654-46655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19287]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 072100C]


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, to allow for maximum 
utilization of the General category June-August subquota. Therefore, 
NMFS increases the daily retention limit from zero to one large medium 
or giant BFT on the following, previously designated RFDs for 2000: 
July 30 and 31, and August 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28.

DATES: Effective July 26, 2000.

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 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. General 
category effort controls (including time-period subquotas and RFDs) are 
specified annually under Secs. 635.23(a) and 635.27(a). The 2000 
General category effort controls were implemented July 7, 2000 (65 FR 
42883, July 12, 2000).

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 is 
necessary to allow for full use of the subquota while ensuring an 
August fishery. Therefore, NMFS adjusts the daily retention limit for 
July 30 and 31, and August 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28, 2000, 
previously identified as RFDs

[[Page 46655]]

to one large medium or giant BFT per vessel. NMFS has selected these 
days in order to give adequate advanced notice to fishery participants 
and NMFS enforcement.
    The intent of this adjustment is to allow for maximum utilization 
of the June-August subquota (specified under Sec. 635.27(a)) by General 
category participants in order to help achieve optimum yield in the 
General category fishery, to collect a broad range of data for stock 
monitoring purposes, and to be consistent with the objectives of the 
HMS FMP.
    While catch rates have been low so far this season, NMFS recognizes 
that they may increase. In addition, due to the temporal and 
geographical nature of the fishery, certain gear types and areas are 
more productive at various times during the fishery. In order to ensure 
that the June-August subquota is not filled prematurely and to ensure 
equitable fishing opportunities in all areas and for all gear types, 
NMFS has not waived all of the RFDs in August. The remaining previously 
scheduled RFDs (which have not been waived) correspond to market 
closures in Japan and may promote better ex-vessel prices.

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: July 26, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-19287 Filed 7-26-00; 4:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F