[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53812-53813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16993]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 220919-0193; RTID 0648-XD073]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna 
Fisheries; Closure of the Angling Category Gulf of Maine Area Trophy 
Fishery for 2023

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the Angling category Gulf of Maine area fishery 
for large medium and giant (``trophy'' (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 
cm) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This 
action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS 
Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.

DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m., local time, August 5, 2023, through 
December 31, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Crawford, [email protected], 
301-427-8503 or Larry Redd, Jr., [email protected], 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic HMS fisheries, including BFT 
fisheries, are managed under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). The 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) and its amendments are implemented by regulations 
at 50 CFR part 635. Section 635.27 divides the U.S. BFT quota 
recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and as implemented by the United States among 
the various domestic fishing categories, per the allocations 
established in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments. NMFS 
is required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide U.S. fishing 
vessels with a reasonable opportunity to harvest quotas under relevant 
international fishery agreements, such as the ICCAT Convention, which 
is implemented domestically pursuant to ATCA.
    Under Sec.  635.28(a)(1), NMFS files a closure action with the 
Office of the Federal Register for publication when a BFT quota (or 
subquota) is reached or is projected to be reached. Retaining, 
possessing, or landing BFT under that quota category is prohibited on 
and after the effective date and time of a closure action for that 
category, for the remainder of the fishing year, until the opening of 
the subsequent quota period or until such date as specified.
    As of January 1, 2023, the previous Angling category Trophy North 
subquota area was divided into two zones: north and south of 42[deg] N 
lat. (off Chatham, MA) (87 FR 59966, October 3, 2022). These newly 
formed areas are named the Gulf of Maine Trophy area and the Southern 
New England Trophy area. The 2023 BFT fishing year, which is managed on 
a calendar-year basis and subject to an annual calendar-year quota, 
began January 1, 2023. The Angling category season opened January 1, 
2023, and continues through December 31, 2023. The Angling category 
baseline quota is 297.4 metric tons (mt), of which 9.2 mt is 
suballocated for the harvest of large medium and giant (trophy) BFT by 
vessels fishing under the Angling category quota, with 2.3 mt allocated 
for each of the following areas: North of 42[deg] N lat. (the Gulf of 
Maine area); south of 42[deg] N lat. and north of 39[deg]18' N lat. 
(the southern New England area); south of 39[deg]18' N lat., and 
outside of the Gulf of Mexico (the southern area); and the Gulf of 
Mexico region. Trophy BFT measure 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length 
or greater. This action applies to the Gulf of Maine area.

Angling Category Trophy Bluefin Tuna Gulf of Maine Fishery Closure

    Based on landings data from the NMFS Automated Catch Reporting 
System, as well as average catch rates and anticipated fishing 
conditions, NMFS projects the Angling category Gulf of Maine area 
trophy BFT subquota of 2.3 mt has been reached and exceeded. Therefore, 
retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant (i.e., 
measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length or greater) BFT in the 
Gulf of Maine area by persons aboard HMS Angling and HMS Charter/
Headboat permitted vessels (when fishing recreationally) must cease at 
11:30 p.m. local time on August 5, 2023. This closure will remain 
effective through December 31, 2023. This action applies to HMS Angling 
and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally 
for BFT, and is taken consistent with the regulations at Sec.  
635.28(a)(1). This action is intended to prevent further overharvest of 
the Angling category Gulf of Maine area trophy BFT subquota. NMFS 
previously closed the 2023 trophy BFT fishery in the southern area on 
February 12, 2023 (88 FR 11820, February 24, 2023), in the Gulf of 
Mexico area on May 17, 2023 (88 FR 30234, May 11, 2023), and in the 
southern New England area on June 5, 2023 (88 FR 37175, June 7, 2023). 
Therefore, with this closure of the Gulf of Maine area trophy BFT 
fishery, the Angling category trophy BFT fishery will be closed in all 
areas for 2023.
    If needed, subsequent Angling category adjustments will be 
published in the Federal Register. Information regarding the Angling 
category fishery for Atlantic tunas, including daily retention limits 
for BFT measuring 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm), 
and any further Angling category adjustments, is available at https://www.hmspermits.noaa.gov or by calling 978-281-9260. Fishermen aboard 
HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may catch and 
release (or tag and release) BFT of all sizes, subject to the 
requirements of the catch-and-release and tag-and-release programs at 
Sec.  635.26. All BFT that are released must be handled in a manner 
that will maximize survival, and without removing the fish from the 
water, consistent with requirements at Sec.  635.21(a)(1). For 
additional information on safe handling, see the ``Careful Catch and 
Release'' brochure available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/outreach-and-education/careful-catch-and-release-brochure/.
    HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessel owners are 
required to report the catch of all BFT retained or discarded dead, 
within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, by accessing 
https://www.hmspermits.noaa.gov, using the HMS Catch Reporting app, or 
calling

[[Page 53813]]

888-872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.).

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and regulations at 50 CFR part 635 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    The Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) finds that pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and 
opportunity to provide comment on this action, as notice and comment 
would be impracticable and contrary for the following reasons. 
Specifically, the regulations implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS 
FMP and its amendments provide for inseason adjustments and fishery 
closures to respond to the unpredictable nature of BFT availability on 
the fishing grounds, the migratory nature of this species, and the 
regional variations in the BFT fishery. Providing for prior notice and 
opportunity to comment is impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest as this fishery is currently underway and delaying this action 
could result in further excessive trophy BFT landings that may result 
in future potential quota reductions for the Angling category, 
depending on the magnitude of a potential Angling category overharvest. 
NMFS must close the Gulf of Maine area trophy BFT fishery before 
additional landings of these sizes of BFT occur. Taking this action 
does not raise conservation and management concerns. NMFS notes that 
the public had an opportunity to comment on the underlying rulemakings 
that established the U.S. BFT quota and the inseason adjustment 
criteria.
    For all of the above reasons, the AA also finds that pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d), there is good cause to waive the 30-day delay in 
effectiveness.

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

    Dated: August 3, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-16993 Filed 8-4-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P