catch-limit · atlantic hms · bluefin · Published 2018-09-21 · Effective 2018-09-18 · 83 FR 47843
Document
Document number
2018-20603
Federal Register citation
83 FR 47843
Type
Rule
Action
Temporary rule; General category September fishery for 2018; inseason bluefin tuna quota transfer and closure.
Category
catch-limit
Region
atlantic hms
Species
bluefin
Publication date
2018-09-21
Effective date
2018-09-18
NOAA docket
Docket No. 150121066-5717-02
Abstract
NMFS transfers 60 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the September 2018 subquota period and closes the General category fishery for large medium and giant BFT until the General category reopens on October 1, 2018. The quota transfer is intended to provide additional fishing opportunities based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT. Given that the adjusted quota is projected to be caught quickly, the closure is to prevent overharvest of the adjusted General category September 2018 BFT subquota.