[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19235]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 072501A]


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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) 
General category daily catch limit should be adjusted in order to allow 
for maximum utilization of the 2001 General category June through 
August subquota. Therefore, NMFS increases the daily retention limit 
from one to two large medium or giant BFT for the remainder of the June 
through August time-period.

DATES: Effective July 30, 2001 through August 31, 2001.

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. BFT fishing 
category quotas and General category effort controls (including time-
period subquotas and Restricted-Fishing Days (RFDs)) are specified 
annually under Secs.  635.23(a) and 635.27(a). The 2001 BFT quotas and 
General category effort controls were implemented July 13, 2001 (66 FR 
37421, July 18, 2001).

Adjustment of Daily Retention Limit

    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 an increase of the daily retention 
limit is appropriate and necessary to allow full use of the June 
through August subquota while ensuring an August fishery. Therefore, 
NMFS adjusts the daily retention limit for the remainder of the June 
through August subquota time-period to two large medium or giant BFT 
per vessel. This adjustment does not affect the previously scheduled 
RFDs for August (August 11, 12, and 13), on which the daily retention 
in the General category will be zero, and on which General category 
vessels may not fish for BFT.
    The intent of this adjustment is to allow for maximum utilization 
of the June through 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 Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks.
    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 through August subquota is not filled prematurely and to 
ensure equitable fishing opportunities in all areas and for all gear 
types, NMFS has not waived the RFDs in August, which correspond to 
market closures in Japan, and could promote better ex-vessel prices.

Classification

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

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

    Dated: July 27, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-19235 Filed 7-27-01; 4:53 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S