[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 162 (Thursday, August 21, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44423-44424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22258]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 081597B]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fishery

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the fishery for school Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT)

[[Page 44424]]

conducted by Angling category fishermen in the waters off Delaware and 
states south. Closure of this fishery is necessary because the annual 
quota of 51 metric tons (mt) of school ABT allocated for this 
subcategory in waters off Delaware and states south is projected to be 
attained by August 18, 1997. The intent of this action is to prevent 
overharvest of the quota established for this fishery.

DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m. local time on August 18, 1997, through 
December 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin, 301-713-2347, or 
Mark Murray-Brown, 508-281-9260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations promulgated under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) regulating 
the harvest of ABT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction 
are found at 50 CFR part 285.
    Section 285.22(d)(1) of the regulations provides for an annual 
quota of 51 mt of school ABT to be harvested from waters off Delaware 
and states south by individuals in the Angling category. The Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), is authorized under 
Sec. 285.20(b)(1) to monitor the catch and landing statistics and, on 
the basis of those statistics, to project a date when the catch of ABT 
will equal any quota under Sec. 285.22. The AA is further authorized 
under Sec. 285.20(b)(1) to prohibit fishing for, or retention of, 
Atlantic bluefin tuna by those fishing in the category subject to the 
quota when the catch of tuna equals the quota established under 
Sec. 285.22. The AA has determined, based on the reported catch and 
estimated fishing effort, that the annual quota of school ABT for those 
fishing in waters off Delaware and states south will be attained by 
August 18, 1997. Fishing for, catching, possessing, or landing any 
school ABT (measuring 27 inches to less than 47 inches (69 cm to less 
than 119 cm)) in the closed area must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time on 
August 18, 1997.
    However, anglers may continue to tag and release ABT of all sizes 
under the NMFS tag-and-release program (50 CFR 285.27). The southern 
area Angling category fishery for bluefin tuna in the large school and 
small medium size classes (47 inches to less than 59 inches (119 cm to 
less than 150 cm), and 59 inches to less than 73 inches (150 cm to less 
than 185 cm) curved fork length, respectively) was closed effective 
July 20, 1997 (62 FR 35447, July 1, 1997). Therefore, the southern area 
Angling category fishery for school, large school, and small medium ABT 
is now closed for the season.
    The fishery for school, large school, small medium, and trophy ABT 
(measuring greater than 73 inches), for the waters off New Jersey and 
states north is not affected by this closure, and remains open until 
further notice at a catch limit of one fish per vessel per day.
    A small amount of trophy ABT remains in the southern area; pending 
attainment of the annual quota for trophy fish, large medium or giant 
ABT (73 inches (185 cm) total curved fork length or greater) may still 
be landed under the Angling category subject to the trophy fish limit 
of one per vessel per year. Such large medium or giant ABT must be 
reported to the nearest NMFS enforcement office as required under 
Sec. 285.24. In North Carolina, trophy fish must be reported to the 
Coast Guard at 919-995-6403. Anglers should verify that the trophy 
category remains open by calling the NMFS 24-hour Information Line at 
301-713-1279 prior to each fishing trip.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 285.20(b) and 50 CFR 285.22 and 
is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: August 18, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-22258 Filed 8-18-97; 2:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F