Atlantic Billfishes; Atlantic Blue Marlin and Atlantic White Marlin Minimum Size; Billfish Tournament Notification Requirements; Atlantic Marlin Bag Limit

By interim rule, published in the Federal Register on March 24, 1998, NMFS increased the minimum size limits for Atlantic blue marlin (BUM) and Atlantic white marlin (WHM) respectively, and required operators of tournaments involving any Atlantic billfish to notify NMFS at least 4 weeks prior to commencement. NMFS extends this interim rule for an additional 180 days, and amends it to increase the minimum size limit for Atlantic BUM to 99 inches LJFL (251 cm); establish a recreational bag limit of one Atlantic BUM or WHM per vessel per trip; and grant the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA) authority to adjust the bag limit. The intent of this amendment and extension is to continue to reduce overfishing of Atlantic BUM and WHM, and implement the recommendation of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), as required under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). These actions are necessary until an amendment to the Atlantic Billfish Fishery Management Plan is proposed and approved, and other more comprehensive measures as established by that amendment, are implemented by final rule.