Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Monitoring of Recreational Landings; Retention Limit for Recreationally Landed North Atlantic Swordfish

NMFS issues this final rule to amend regulations governing Atlantic billfish and North Atlantic swordfish recreational fisheries to implement recommendations adopted at the 2000 meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and enhance management programs for these species. This rule implements a mandatory recreational landings self-reporting system for Atlantic blue marlin, Atlantic white marlin, west Atlantic sailfish, and North Atlantic swordfish; establishes a recreational retention limit for North Atlantic swordfish; adds handlines as an authorized gear for North Atlantic swordfish; clarifies language concerning applicability of recreational retention limits for sharks, yellowfin tuna, and North Atlantic swordfish; clarifies language regarding the Billfish Certificate of Eligibility (COE); and makes the criterion for determining the size and/or size class the same for both vessels commercially permitted for swordfish and recreational vessels. In addition, NMFS will promote voluntary use of circle hooks within the recreational swordfish fishery via an outreach program. The intent of these actions is to improve monitoring and conservation of overfished Atlantic billfish and North Atlantic swordfish stocks.