[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63807-63808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27313]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 101700B]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin 
Tuna

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

ACTION: Retention limit adjustment.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS adjusts the daily retention limit for the Angling 
category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) in all areas to two 
school BFT, measuring 27 to less than 47 inches (69 to less than 119 
cm) curved fork length, and two BFT from either the large school or 
small medium size class, measuring 47 to less than 73 inches (119 to 
less than 150 cm) curved fork length, per vessel from October 22, 2000, 
through November 26, 2000. In addition, NMFS is making subsequent 
adjustments to the daily retention limit. This action is being taken to 
provide increased fishing and data collection opportunities in all 
areas without risking overharvest of this category.

DATES:  Effective 1 a.m., local time, October 22, 2000, until 11:30 
p.m., local time, November 26, 2000, the daily retention limit in all 
areas is adjusted to two school BFT and two large school or small 
medium BFT.
    Effective November 27, 2000, the daily retention limit in all areas 
is adjusted to one large school or small medium BFT until May 31, 2001.

[[Page 63808]]


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 under 
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.
    Implementing regulations for the Atlantic tuna fisheries at 50 CFR 
635.23 allow for adjustments to the daily retention limits in order to 
provide for maximum utilization of the quota spread over the longest 
possible period of time. NMFS may increase or reduce the per-angler 
retention limit for any size class BFT or may change the per-angler 
limit to a per-boat limit or the per-boat limit to a per-angler limit. 
In addition, NMFS may make closures or changes to a retention limit 
effective in certain areas and/or regions.
    NMFS is responsible for implementing a recommendation of the 
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 
to limit the catch of school BFT to no more than 8 percent by weight of 
the total domestic quota over each 4-consecutive-year period. NMFS 
implements this ICCAT recommendation through annual and inseason 
adjustments to the school BFT landings and school BFT reserve 
categories, as necessary, and through the establishment of a school BFT 
reserve (64 FR 29090, May 28, 1999; 65 FR 42883, July 12, 2000). The 
recent ICCAT recommendation allows NMFS more flexibility to make 
interannual adjustments for overharvests and underharvests, provided 
that the 8-percent landings limit is met over the applicable 4-
consecutive-year period. This approach provides NMFS with the 
flexibility to enhance fishing opportunities and the collection of 
information on a broad range of BFT size classes and responds to 
requests from the recreational fishing community for more advance 
notice of retention limit adjustments and greater stability and 
certainty in planning for the fishing season.
    Over the last several years, NMFS has received comments from 
Angling category fishermen that the implementation of an increased 
daily retention limit over a date-certain period is preferable to a 
longer season with a lower daily retention limit as it facilitates the 
scheduling of fishing trips, particularly charter trips. In 2000, as in 
1999, NMFS increased the daily retention limit for two date-certain 
time periods, and comments from Angling category participants have been 
positive. The most recent period with an increased daily retention 
limit was September 1 through October 15, 2000, when the limit was two 
school BFT and two large school or small medium BFT per vessel, in all 
areas.
    Preliminary Large Pelagic Survey estimates of landings for June 
through October 1, 2000, indicate that approximately 16.3 metric tons 
(mt) of school BFT and approximately 37.8 mt of large school or small 
medium BFT have been landed. These figures are approximately 12.0 and 
15.7 percent of the 2000 Angling category quotas for school and large 
school or small medium BFT, respectively, as established on July 12, 
2000 (65 FR 42883) and subsequently adjusted by an inseason transfer of 
60 mt from the Angling North large school or small medium subcategory 
to the General category.
    Since October 16, 2000, the daily retention limit has been set at 
one large school or small medium BFT per vessel. Considering the 
relatively low landings to date, the availability of quota, and recent 
reports that BFT are still available to anglers in portions of the mid-
Atlantic fishing area, NMFS has determined that an increase to the 
Angling category daily retention limit is warranted. Consistent with 
the objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, 
Swordfish, and Sharks, such an increase would allow for maximum 
utilization of the U.S. landings quota of BFT while maintaining a fair 
distribution of fishing opportunities, would help achieve optimum yield 
in the Angling category fishery, and would help collect a broad range 
of data for stock monitoring purposes.
    Effective October 22, 2000, through November 26, 2000, the BFT 
Angling category daily retention limit for all areas will be two school 
BFT and two BFT from either the large school or small medium size class 
per vessel. After November 26, 2000, the daily retention limit for all 
areas will be one large school or small medium BFT per vessel. The 
daily retention limit and the duration of daily retention limit 
adjustment have been selected based on an examination of past and 
current catch and effort rates. NMFS will continue to monitor the 
Angling category fishery closely through the Automated Landings 
Reporting System, the state harvest tagging programs in North Carolina 
and Maryland, and the Large Pelagic Survey. Depending on the level of 
fishing effort and catch rates of BFT, NMFS may determine that an 
interim closure or additional retention limit adjustment, in all or 
some areas, is necessary to enhance scientific data collection and 
fishing opportunities. Additionally, NMFS may determine that an 
allocation from the school BFT reserve is warranted to further fishery 
management objectives.
    Closures or subsequent adjustments to the daily retention limit, if 
any, shall be announced through publication in the Federal Register. In 
addition, anglers may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at 888-
USA-TUNA (888-872-8862) or 978-281-9305 for updates on quota monitoring 
and retention limit adjustments. Anglers aboard Charter/Headboat 
category vessels, when engaged in recreational fishing for school, 
large school, and small medium BFT are subject to the same rules as 
anglers aboard Angling category vessels. All BFT landed under the 
Angling category quota must be reported within 24 hours of landing to 
the NMFS Automated Landings Reporting System by calling 888-USA-TUNA 
(888-872-8862) or, if landed in the states of North Carolina or 
Maryland, to a reporting station prior to offloading. Information about 
these state harvest tagging programs, including reporting station 
locations, can be obtained in North Carolina by calling (800) 338-7804, 
and in Maryland by calling (410) 213-1531.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 635.23(b)(3). This action is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: October 19, 2000.
Dean Swanson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-27313 Filed 10-20-00; 2:28 pm]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22 -S