[Federal Register: August 6, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 151)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 42855-42856]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06au99-16]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 072999A]

 
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Atlantic Bluefin 
Tuna

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

ACTION: Adjustment of General category daily retention limit on 
previously designated restricted-fishing days.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) 
General category restricted-fishing day (RFD)

[[Page 42856]]

schedule should be adjusted, i.e., certain RFDs should be waived, in 
order to allow for maximum utilization of the General category June-
August subquota. Therefore, NMFS increases the daily retention limit 
from zero to one large medium or giant BFT on the following previously 
designated RFDs for 1999: August 8, 9, 15, and 16.

DATES: Effective August 2, 1999.

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 the 
Magnuson-Stevens 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. General category effort controls (including time-period 
subquotas and RFDs) are specified annually under Secs. 635.23(a) and 
635.27(a). The 1999 General category effort controls were implemented 
June 1, 1999 (64 FR 29806, June 3, 1999).

Adjustment of Daily Retention Limit for Selected Dates

    Under Sec. 635.23 (a)(4), NMFS may increase or decrease the daily 
retention limit of large medium and giant BFT over a range from zero 
(on RFDs) to a maximum of three per vessel to allow for maximum 
utilization of the quota for BFT. Based on a review of dealer reports, 
daily landing trends, and the availability of BFT on the fishing 
grounds, NMFS has determined that adjustment to the RFD schedule, and 
therefore an increase of the daily retention limit for selected 
previously designated RFDs, is necessary. Therefore, NMFS adjusts the 
daily retention limit for August 8, 9, 15, and 16, 1999, to one large 
medium or giant BFT per vessel. NMFS has selected these days in order 
give adequate advanced notice to fishery participants and NMFS 
enforcement.
    The intent of this adjustment is to allow for maximum utilization 
of the June-August subquota (specified under Sec. 635.27(a)) by General 
category participants in order to help achieve optimum yield in the 
General category fishery, to collect a broad range of data for stock 
monitoring purposes, and to be consistent with the objectives of the 
HMS FMP.

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 635.23(a)(4) and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: August 2, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-20249 Filed 8-2-99; 5:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F