catch-limit · atlantic hms · bluefin · Published 2018-10-10 · Effective 2018-10-04 · 83 FR 50857
Document
Document number
2018-21991
Federal Register citation
83 FR 50857
Type
Rule
Action
Temporary rule; General category October-November fishery for 2018; inseason bluefin tuna quota transfer and closure.
Category
catch-limit
Region
atlantic hms
Species
bluefin
Publication date
2018-10-10
Effective date
2018-10-04
NOAA docket
Docket No. 150121066-5717-02
Abstract
NMFS transfers 55 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota to the General category October through November 2018 subquota period (40 mt from the Harpoon category and 15 mt from the Reserve category) and closes the General category fishery for large medium and giant BFT until the General category reopens on December 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 Atlantic 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 October through November 2018 BFT subquota.