Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Bluefin Tuna Fisheries

NMFS has determined that effective 11:30 p.m. local time on November 17, 2003, the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Angling category fishery will close in both the northern and southern management areas. NMFS also has determined that a BFT quota transfer from the General category to the Reserve category in the amount of 150 metric tons (mt) is warranted. These actions are being taken to ensure that U.S. BFT harvest is consistent with recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), pursuant to the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), to meet domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), and to prevent overharvest of the 2003 Angling category quota.