Atlantic Marlin Adjustable Bag Limit Provision

By the 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 Atlantic billfish sport fishing tournaments to notify NMFS at least 4 weeks prior to tournament commencement. On September 29, 1998, NMFS extended the period of the interim rule for an additional 180 days and amended it to increase the minimum size limit for Atlantic BUM to 99 inches lower jaw-fork length (LJFL) (251 cm), to establish a recreational bag limit of one Atlantic BUM or WHM per vessel per trip and to grant the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), authority to adjust the bag limit, including adjusting it to zero. The current action amends the interim rule to remove the provision allowing the AA to adjust the bag limit.