[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 208 (Friday, October 26, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54165-54166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26978]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 102201D]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin 
Tuna

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

ACTION:  Coastwide General category closure.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS has determined that the 2001 fishing year Atlantic 
bluefin tuna (BFT) coastwide General category quota will be attained by 
October 23, 2001. Therefore, the coastwide General category fishery 
will be closed effective 11:30 p.m. on October 23, 2001. This action is 
being taken to prevent overharvest of the adjusted coastwide General 
category quota of 816.7 metric tons (mt).

DATES:  Effective 11:30 p.m. local time on October 23, 2001, through 
May 31, 2002.

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

[[Page 54166]]

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 2001 
fishing year General category quota and effort control specifications 
were issued on July 13, 2001 (66 FR 37421, July 18, 2001).

Coastwide 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 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 adjusted 2001 fishing year BFT quota specifications issued 
pursuant to Sec. 635.27 set a coastwide General category quota of 816.7 
metric tons (mt) of large medium and giant BFT to be harvested from the 
regulatory area during the 2001 fishing year. Based on reported 
landings and effort, NMFS projects that this quota will be reached by 
October 23, 2001. Therefore, fishing for, retaining, possessing, or 
landing large medium or giant BFT intended for sale by persons aboard 
vessels in the General or Charter/Headboat categories must cease at 
11:30 p.m. local time October 23, 2001. The intent of this closure is 
to prevent overharvest of the coastwide quota established for the 
General category.
    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) and (2) may land one 
large medium or giant BFT prior to May 31, 2002.

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 22, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-26978 Filed 10-23-01; 11:23 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S