last updated: 12/29/2003
NMFS TRANSFERS BFT QUOTA AND REOPENS THE GENERAL CATEGORY FISHERY
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) adjusts the coastwide General category quota for the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery by transferring 15.0 metric tons (mt) from the Longline North subcategory quota, 12 mt from the Longline South subcategory quota and 3 mt from the Trap category to the coastwide General category for a revised quota of approximately 564.4 mt. To date approximately 552.8 mt have been landed by the coastwide General category, thus approximately 11.6 mt remains unharvested. Given the adjusted quota, the coastwide General category will reopen at 12:30 a.m. January 2, 2004 and close at 11:30 p.m. January 3, 2004. Therefore, fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant BFT intended for sale by persons aboard vessels in the General or HMS Charter/Headboat categories must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time January 3, 2004. These actions are being taken to allow for maximum utilization of the U.S. BFT landings quota while maintaining a fair distribution of fishing opportunities, preventing overharvest of the adjusted quotas for the affected fishing categories, helping to achieve optimum yield in the General category fishery, and allowing the collection of a broad range of data for stock monitoring purposes, consistent with the objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks. This notice is a courtesy to BFT fishery permit holders to help keep you informed about your fishery. Official notice of Federal fishery actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of the Federal Register. For further information contact Brad McHale at (978) 281-9260.