[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 196 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52666-52667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26709]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 285

[I.D. 100297A]


Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the 1997 Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) 
October-December period General category subquota will be attained by 
October 5, 1997. Therefore, the General category fishery for October-
December will be closed effective at 11:30 p.m. on October 5, 1997. 
This action is being taken to prevent overharvest of the adjusted 141 
metric tons (mt) subquota for the October-December period.

DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m. local time on October 5, 1997, through 
December 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin, 301-713-2347, or Pat 
Scida, 508-281-9260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) governing 
the harvest of ABT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction 
are found at 50 CFR part 285. Section 285.22 subdivides the U.S. quota 
recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) among the various domestic fishing categories.

General Category Closure

    NMFS is required, under Sec. 285.20(b)(1), to monitor the catch and 
landing statistics and, on the basis of these statistics, to project a 
date when the catch of ABT will equal the quota and publish a Federal 
Register announcement to close the applicable fishery.
    Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 50 CFR 
285.22 provide for a subquota of 72 mt of large medium and giant ABT to 
be harvested from the regulatory area by vessels permitted in the 
General category during the period beginning October 1 and ending 
December 31. Due to an overharvest of 1 mt in the September period 
subquota, and the transfer of 70 mt from other categories (13 mt from 
the Reserve, 3 mt from the Incidental Longline North quota, and 54 mt 
from the Incidental Longline South quota) (62 FR 51608, October 2, 
1997), the October-December period subquota was adjusted to 141 mt. The 
October-December subquota is divided into a coastwide subquota of 131 
mt and a 10 mt set-aside for the traditional fall New York Bight 
fishery area, defined as the waters south and west of a straight line 
originating at a point on the southern shore of Long Island at 
72 deg.27' W. long. (Shinnecock Inlet) and running SSE

[[Page 52667]]

150 deg. true, and north of 38 deg. 47' N. lat. (Delaware Bay).
    Based on reported catch and effort, NMFS projects that the revised 
coastwide subquota of 131 mt will be reached by October 5, 1997. 
Therefore, fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium 
of giant ABT by vessels in the General category must cease at 11:30 
p.m. local time October 5, 1997. If, after tallying the landings 
following the closure, NMFS determines that a substantial amount of the 
coastwide quota remains, NMFS may reopen the coastwide General category 
fishery as necessary to allow full harvest of the coastwide subquota. 
Then, once it is determined that the General category catch has reached 
approximately 10 mt less than the overall October-December subquota 
(i.e. the coastwide catch totals approximately 131 mt), NMFS will 
announce (through notice in the Federal Register and over the Highly 
Migratory Species Fax Network and Information Lines) the opening date 
of the New York Bight fishery. After the opening date of the New York 
Bight fishery, fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large 
medium or giant ABT by vessels in the General category may occur in the 
New York Bight are only.
    The intent of this closure is to prevent overharvest of the 
October-December period subquota established for the General category.

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: October 3, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-26709 Filed 10-3-97; 3:39 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M