Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

 The tuna have arrived at the fingers on Jeffries Ledge. Apparently a number of
hookups occurred on saturday, on chunked herring. Let's hope they stick
around for awhile this year.

 The  Doctah

    Yesterday a friend and I ran out to Jeffries from the Salsbury State
    ramp.  About 10 miles out there were about 2 dozen boats, some
    commercial, some sport.  It looked like they were fishing for tuna.
    Is it unusual for the tuna to be in this close?  I'm quite sure
    I saw a tuna on the surface yesterday, but it was out near Jefferies.
    We took about 20 cod, before the rough seas sent us in about 1pm.
    
    Gone fishin
    Gaff

    I have a chance to go on a tuna boat for a day. I would be just going
    along for the ride and helping if and when I can - not actively
    fishing. Of course the action - if there is any - is somewhat sparse,
    since a tuna boat is lucky to bring in a fish a day (or so I've been
    told).
    
    The boat goes out approx 100 miles (yikes!) in search of tuna, so the
    day begins REAL early, and probably ends late, too.
    
    I figure that not too many people get the chance to do something like 
    this, so why not try it. I also realize that I run the risk of getting 
    seasick early on and having to suffer rather than enjoy the ride. I still
    figure it's probably worth the risk.
    
    Anybody in this conference done a long day of tuna fishing? Can you
    tell us what it's like?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Ed
    

    Yeah, lots of long fishless days. Boring trolling, boring and smelly
    chuncking. 100 miles, sounds like a canyon trip south of the cape?
    Where are you going out of and what kind of boat?
    
    Is this a comercial or sport fishing boat. 
    
    Have fun.
    Bruce

    I can't comment much on the boat. I believe it is a sport fishing boat
    rather than commercial and the boat is out of Gloucester - but no Moonies, 
    I know that..! Can't say exactly where we would be going - no, it's not
    a secret, I just don't know.
    
    My brother is the one who started the whole thing - apparently his
    brother-in-law (who owns a sport-fishing equipt store) has use of a 
    $1.5 million boat (must be SOME decent boat) from time to time, and he
    has had to cancel fishing plans more than once for lack of sufficient
    crew. That's where my brother and I come in... but I haven't heard back
    from him since we last talked, so I'm not sure how (or even if) the plans
    are coming along...
    
    Ed
    

    Which tackle shop? I know of one tackle store owner who is a top
    notch tuna captain that has a similar deal (runs other peoples boats)
    and he caught five fish in five days earlier this year. Out of
    gloucester I would say the ride is likley to be 15-40 miles depending
    on whether they go to Stellwagon or jeffries and how far east
    he goes. Go for it, sounds like fun. 
    
    Bruce

    While this might not help you, I've done Yelowtail and Albacore trips
    out of H&M landing in San Diego. 
    
    For the Yellowtail, the boat leaves around 02:00, and they stop
    somewhere down the coast to rig for squid. everyone has a squid jig,
    and we snag 'em and toss 'em into the bait tank for later (Yellows
    *love* squid). Then it's a long cruise to the Coronado's (Islands off of
    Mexico) to begin Trolling. Like a previous reply stated, seemingly
    endless boring trolling. If the skipper finds fish, though, things get
    exciting *real* fast. If he can't find fish, it's a long day.
    
    The Albacore trip I took was a weekender, and they cased schools
    100-150 miles offshore. Again, if they can't find the schools, it's
    troll-troll-troll. However, if the hookups begin, *WOW*!
    
    If you've never done it before, go. It's a unique experience.
    
    John D. (who just found this notesfile)  

 I heard reports that in the before Bob days, the tuna were in close. 8 miles
away or so. Just beyond the Isles of Shoals, in the canyon.

 A good number of fish have supposedly been caught. Dunno if Bob caused them to 
scoot, but it looks like today would have been a good day to find out.

 The Doctah

    I'm going out of Point Judith on Sat. for bonito, school tuna, and
    anything else that happens along...
    
    		I'll post a note on the results.
    
    				Robert.

    And you thought the weather was nice Saterday eh? I arrived at Point
    Judith to thunder storms and winds of about 20. It was so rough out
    there that we called it a half day. Score : 1 bonito.
    
    According to the guys who run the charter, hurrican Bob drastically
    affected the tuna fishing - water temps went from 72 down to the
    mid 50's overnight. They're not sure if the fishing is ever going
    to get better this year. I may try again in late Sept. though.
    
    				pissa.
    					Robert.

    As a few people in this file know, I spend quite a few days on the
    water each year chasing Bluefin Tuna. Well I'd like to report that
    after a two year slump, I boated two fish this year. The first was
    caught Aug. 29., dressed weight was 565 lbs. The second was this
    past Sat., dressed at 508 lbs. Both were taken on a handline.
    
    
    later
    Steve

    Nice going
    
    Seems like everyday there are some being brought into Hilton's.
    
    How do you go about selling them.  How do they have to be
    prepared/cleaned in preparation for sale.  Should they be bled and
    gutted or just colled down and flank speed for the buyer?
    
    Where do you sell them?
    
    Gordon (would like to try for some next year)
    

    There not hard to sell, there are buyers everywhere. Portsmouth
    Fish Co-op, Tri-Coastal and Hilton in Newburyport and Yankee
    Co-op in Seabrook. The hard part is getting the good price. Some
    will try to low ball the fish, sick fish, no fat, bad color, etc.
    In a small boat, there isn't much you can do do with the fish when
    your out there. Get a bigger boat to lift the fish into you boat,
    or tow it in. I just try to get the fish in as fast as possible.
    
    BTW, they up the daily catch to two fish a day as of last Friday.
    
    Steve

    Well I found another dumb fish over the weekend, dressed at 265
    lbs. I hope they stick around a few more weeks.
    
    Steve

    Congrats!

 gee, Steve, sounds like it's almost time for another boat! :-) :-)

    I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...
    
    maybe this week! FWIW - I guess I have one of the better "one that
    got away fish tales" - two weeks ago I (and Lucky Tim) got my first
    tuna hook up, unfortunatly it was a double (yes two tuna at once)
    and the fight was short lived as they quickly screwed us up.
    
    The next one will not be so lucky....
    
    Bruce

 The pod of fish has reportedly moved from outer flag to a point about 14 
miles out. (According to my source who is sitting there NOW.) :-(
Source's brother caught two fish yesterday.

      Way to go Steve...  I went out with a friend ov mine this past
    weekend.  He had caught two fish the last two times he had been out
    (575 lbs & 550 Lbs).  I figured we had a real good chance to hook up
    again.  Well no luck, two days out and not as much as a bite.  His next
    trip out was this past wednesday.  Wouldn't you know it, another
    fish....(500 Lbs).  I don't dare go again. I go, no fish. I don't go,
    he hooks up.
     $13,000.00 in eight days. (five trips out)
    Good luck over the weekend.
    
    P.S.  Tuna seiners two miles off Plum Island.  Get your fish before
    they do !
    
    Bruce

    The tuna season in the NE is all over as of Thursday night. I haven't
    seen the notice yet, but I'm told the FED's NMFS has decided to
    shut down fishing because the quota is filled. But it realy isn't,
    they took 50 short tons out of our quota and gave it to the area
    south of NE, NY/NJ. The notice is going to be in todays mail.
    
    This realy gets me going, two weeks ago the send out a notice saying
    the quota is only 40% filled, and won't be filled this year. So
    they up it to two fish a day. Saturday I got another notice that
    the quota on small fish that they catch down south will be closed
    Thursday Oct 7, 1991. The letter also states that the quota on large 
    tuna is still open. 
                                                                 
    I wonder who's driving the ship at NMFS???
    
    Steve

I was out fishing friday night about midnight we were heading in and saw a
Tuna being taken off a boat.  One of the guys on board told me that it weight
600 lbs plus.

What a fish !!!

We catch a 20 pound/38 inches Striper not much compared to the Tuna. 

						Jim

    Anyone read the report in last weeks Fisherman about the TUNA busting
    schools of blues between the mouth of the Annisquam and Halibut point.
    The report said that a 6 foot bluefin cleared the water after busting
    into the blues.
    
    In the old days they used to catch tuna in Ipswich bay, maybe they are
    coming back in.
    
    Gordon

    I hear that Channel 5 in Boston is doing a special on Tuna fishing.
    Its surposed to be on tonight at 7:30. I always like hearing about
    the $50 dollars a pound the fishermen get for their fish???
    
    Steve

    	I recently got a note from NOAA informing me that my Tuna permit 
    was going to expire at the end of this calendar year and that to apply 
    for a new one was going to cost $20. Does anyone notice a trend here?
    Regards,
    Paul

>>>    	I recently got a note from NOAA informing me that my Tuna permit 
>>> was going to expire at the end of this calendar year and that to apply 
>>> for a new one was going to cost $20. Does anyone notice a trend here?

ABSOLUTELY !!! I received the same letter....I'm seriously considering not
renewing the permit because I've only fished tuna a couple of times in 5 years.
But after the catch this past season (not mine of course) I might want to
rethink that...I'm so confused....I can't think straight with everyone's hands
in my pockets...Let's see I pay $250 Excise Tax, $30 Town dockage tax, $50
Federal Users Fee, $20 Tuna License Fee, $100 Commercial Fishing License, How
much is that FCC Radio License going to cost me (I luck out for a change - I
renewed it just under the wire)???  Hey I must be rich, I own a boat - Did I
forget anyone....

Opps is this a "rathole"...
Dave "Harpoonist"

    If anyone would like to see our goverment in action, please attend
    tonights public meeting on the new proposed tuna regulations.
    The meeting will be held at:
    Sheraton Inn
    180 Water St.
    Plymouth, MA 02360       
    7-10 pm.
    I attended the meeting in Portsmouth NH last night. It was well
    attended, a guess would be 300 people.
    I won't go into all the proposals, but the big one is cutting
    the general categories quota by 31% in the name of conservation.
    They will then give the angling quota those fish. The angling quota
    is made up of fish caught south of New England. 
                       
    But here's the 1990 numbers that blow away any conservation impact
    of these regs. In 1990 the general category landed 1940 fish, while
    the angling category is estimated to have landed 30201 fish. 
    I don't believe this is the way to rebuild any stock, by killing
    the young fish. I'm glad the NMFS didn't try this on the stripers.
          
    Steve

    I'm happy to report that there are a few tuna around early this
    year. There have been 60 or so landed at Seabrook NH. I got lucky
    and caught two fish my first two days out, 450lbs and 325lbs.
    Things have been very slow the last few days. The quality of the
    fish has been poor, no fat. 
    
    Steve

 Isn't it still sort of early for the fish to have a high fat content, Steve?
I realize they shouldn't still be racers, but the best quality fish usually
start to hit the docks later in the season, don't they?

 Congrats on your fish!

    Thats the problem, most of the fish are lean. But they are here
    so people are catching them. I got luck and caught two fat ones.
    The best fish are landed in Oct. The season won't last that long.
    
    Steve

    Good fish - congrads  I hear that the quality has been so poor that
    some place in Gloucester would even buy the fish and just before that
    they were only paying $5 per pound.
    
    There was a tuna weighed last evening in Newburyport.  Don't know the
    size (witnessed from Michaels Harborside) but it looked less that 400
    lbs.  There were many tuna boats tied up to the town docks last night.
    
    Didn't see many fishing for tuna out on Stellwagon yesterday either.
    
    Gordon
    

    
    	Gorden,
    
    	What was happening out at stellwagon yesterday when you were there?
    U out tunaing or bottem fishing?

    Any info on So. Ca?
    
    Rumor has it that it's GOOD>>

>                     <<< Note 17.33 by SWAM1::WIERSUM_GA >>>

>    Any info on So. Ca?
    
>    Rumor has it that it's GOOD>>


	The Thursday story in the Registor reports it is the best year
	for tuna in several years.  I was not out there long enough
	to get down to San Diego and go out :^(  Get ahold of last
	Thursdays sports section for all the details.  The San Diego
	boats were slamming them.  Not much action for tuna off Orange
	County, but they are slamming the bass out in the flats and
	around the islands.  Don't miss the boat, go for it.  The
	San Diego trips will cost around $100 when the smoke clears.

	How does the taste of bluefin compare to say, yellowfin ?

	The reason I ask is that the Gail Frances/Pt Judith RI has
	a 4am to 6pm tuna trip going (but not for much longer!).  
	Cost is only $100 compared to their 10pm to 12noon trip at $175.
	According to anglers and mates on the blues trip, they've been
	doing real well with schoolie bluefin in the 50 lb range.  Almost
	exclusively bluefin.

	So how's the eating ?  I've had mostly yellowfin, and it's 
	incredibly delicious...

	Ken

 Bluefin is the excellent eating. It's the major source of sashimi in Japan.
If you catch one, it will be delicious.

re:          <<< Note 17.36 by WAHOO::LEVESQUE "Death by Misadventure" >>>

> Bluefin is the excellent eating. It's the major source of sashimi in Japan.
>If you catch one, it will be delicious.

Thanks... that one more reason why I should do this trip and finally catch
me a tuna or 2 or 3 ;-)

Ken

re: -1

	Ken,
		Go get one.  I did.

================================================================================
Note 80.161                REGISTER YOUR HAWG(S) HERE!                161 of 223
CAPL::LANDRY                                         91 lines  27-AUG-1990 13:55
                                 -< TUNA Tail >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        -<  CAPE COD TUNA  >-

        SPECIES: GIANT BLUEFIN TUNA
        WEIGHT:  310lbs
        LENGTH:  80"
        LOCATE:  20+ Miles East of Chatham
        DATE:    5-AUG-1990
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	I ate a portion of it from the sample the Japanese inspector used
	for pricing the Tuna.  The taste is absolutely delicious raw.
	I would "NEVER" consider cooking this.  Captain got $2,945.00 we
	got 20lbs of free lobsters and promised a free trip which we never got.
	Tuna flown to Japan same day and estimated to fetch $38,000.00

-< Tuna Tail >-

    Well the season for Bluefin is now closed to boats with
    General fishing permits. This applies to north of Long Island.
    As the feds did last year, they save 40 tons of the quota for
    the Mid-Alantic states. Its going to be a very long winter...
    
    Steve

    
    Any reports from up north on the tuna fishery? The crew's down here
    have been getting a few yellowfin but the real tuna run has not become
    hot yet. The Giants did not make a showing at the Mud Hole this year.
    
    Here Charlie, here Charlie, I've got this nice artifical Smoker Bait
    for you.
    
    Quick question while I'm thinking of it. If the tuna are after very
    small baitfish, does anyone have a suggestion for trawling lures?
    
    /Irv
    The Fish-in Technician

 Stick boats are getting fish; apparently a fair number. It is expected that
trollers should start picking up the odd fish this week. Bait fishermen within
a week or two.

    been pretty quite so far.  If the fish are after small baitfish try
    trolling small tuna clones, hex heads and cedar plugs.

Where is this mud hole you guys are talking about?

Kev

    
    
    The Mud Hole is a large area which has been a stopping off point for
    the giants. It is located about 15 miles from Shark River Inlet and
    even within reasonable rang from Barnegat Inlet. Some Loran number for
    the west side of the Mud Hole are 26755  and 43485.It's a large area
    that contains some other named places such as Monster Ledge, The
    Slough, and the Farms. The giants show up at the north end of the Hole
    normally sometime around the end of July but in recent years they have
    been there after Labor day.They move from the northern part to the
    southeast portion's 200 ft depths. Whiting and ling are on  their
    dinner menue and chumming at anchor is one of the catch methods. Some
    of the Spreader makerel and squid bars (which were developed by theguys
    at this fishery) are also catch methods. 
    
    Sometime its the place to be, sometimes they don't stop in the Hole at
    all.
    
    /Irv 
    The Fishin-Technician 

    I need a crew member for a tuna trip this sat the 7th. Anyone who
    is willing to do the following is welcome to give it a try:
    
    -Be at the boat at 4AM
    -Not be back to the dock till about 5PM
    -Cut about 200lbs of herring into bite size pieces
    -Maybe be on the reel end of the fight of your life (I drive the boat)
    -All you need to bring is your lunch
    
    You should not be prone to seasickness. No beer, tuna fishing is
    serious (and can be very dangerous) business.
    
    Contact me by mail (LEVERS::SWEET)
    
    Bruce

    Bruce
    
    Don't you really mean? 
    
    "All you have to do is lose your lunch"
    
    Where are you gonna be sat?  We'll be up north.
    
    Joe

    Bruce,
    	Tried to send you mail on LEVERS::SWEET but sys not alive?
    	As I may not wan't to risk towing the FishTeaser Sat am
    	the day after it get's the brakes fixed (I hope) I may be
    	able to convince the boss at home to let me be mate on your
    	Tuna hunt.
    
    	I'll try to send you mail/call but wanted to list my interest here.
    	I am in DAS this am but check my mail often CAPL::LANDRY_D
    
    	Need to know departure location/directions.
    	-< Tuna Tail >-   handle from notesfile yrs back 310# Giant BlueFin
    			  caught off Chatham on "free" fishing trip ;^)

    Joe,
    
      Looks like sat may be a wash and I'll head out sunday. I'll go
    anywhere within 40 miles of gloucester. Unless I hear something
    to convince me to head up to Jeffries I'll either to the nw or
    sw corner, heard some fish taken there last week. We need to good
    wind from the north to push the fish into the bay....
    
    Bruce

    Hey Guy
    
    I'm gonna pick a spot inside near the flag and park myself there for
    the rest of the season.  I figure if I don't move that sooner or later
    I'll finally be in the right place.  The past 2 trips I've outsmarted
    myself.  Steve said go north young man, to the fingers.  So I went
    east.  Wound up in a small fleet without a mark all day.  Nothing
    happened in our fleet, but fish were taken to the north.  They're around, 
    but its spotty.  Only good news I've heard recently is that the
    yellowfin finally busted open down south.  Some day I'ld like to get a
    couple of boats together and make a run down there for 2 days of
    fishing.
    
    Later
    Joe
    

    Sunday on the NWC was a real snoozer, no mark, no fish not
    even doggies in the slick. Heard a fish or two on the SWC.
    
    Bruce

    Bruce,
    	Didn't hear from ya so I washed the FishTeaser over the weekend.
    	Sorry ya didn't nail one.
    	Keep me in mind if ya a mate short ;-)
    -< Tuna Tail >-

    Bruce,
    
    I just wanted to thank you again.  I had a ball trying to catch one of
    those big S**kers!  Well bustem up the next time.
    
    I can be available at the drop of a hat!!
    
    Monday morning was tuff, stopped rockin around Midnight Sunday.
    
    Later for now!
    
    Ken

    bruce
    
    i'm thinking of running my boat down south for some yellowfin this
    weekend.  interested in taking your boat down for a multiple boat trip? 
    right now dennis is towing his down.  be nice to get multiple boats
    going...
    
    joe

    bruce
    
    looks like we're punting this week due to weather.  interested in
    trying for next week?
    
    Joe

re:-1
	Too bad your not trying for Tuna this weekend down south.
	Maybe I'd tag along with the FishTeaser.
	Otherwise I may try the Merrimack one time before DisneyWorld next week.

	If ya's don't hear from me for a bit I'll be back from the big buck
	park's Wednesday 18-Aug

	Hope you all save some fish for me ;^)

	-< Tuna Tail >-

    Hey Tuna Tail, I'll be in Disney next week also so if you do bring your
    boat down drive thru Fort Wilderness and maybe Mickey and Goofy can
    show us a few things?  :-)

    re .-2
    
    dick
    
    looks like we're going tomorrow.  we'll be going out of either
    fairhaven or westport mass and fishing the fingers and the dump (35-40
    miles out).  any other noters down that way with any fishing reports?
    
    here we go a tunawishing
    
    joe

    Joe,
    	I'm running into business problems so may not be taking vacation
    	day tommorrow as I wanted to but in any case I will not have my
    	car to bring the FishTeaser which I would do if you were going
    	Saturday?
    
    	Oh well
    	Thanks for letting me know
    	-< Tuna Tail >-

    re: .56
    
    So your going to Fort Wilderness (DisneyWorld)
    All I need is a reason to skip a day with the Ka-Zillion kids at
    these parks (including my two girls 13-9) so I can go out
    for a day trip hunting Marlin, SailFish whateva....
    
    Tell me your "boss" would let you do this for a day and let'd do it ;-)
    
    Not sure about you but as for me 7 day's of rides/kids/$$$ is not what
    I call a vacation.....If I could take off one of those day's and do
    some serious fishing then it would be worth it.  It's a good time of
    year down there also :-)
    
    -< Tuna Tail >-

    re:.56 & .59
    
    	I'm at home today.
    	Talked to the boss and if you can take a day off in Florida next
    	week she will allow me to do a day Fishing Trip :-)
    
    	I get there Monday 16-Aug and Depart Monday 23-Aug.
    	Assume if we can fish it would be best during a weekday like
    	Wednesday/Thursday ish?
    
    	Let me know if you can do it.  I will check my mail up till Sunday
    	night here from home.  I can give you our hotel phone # in Florida
    	so we can arrange time etc.
    	
    	-< Tuna Tail >-

    I got on the nmfs fax net for bluefin tuna information.  I'll post the
    faxes as I get them.  Until we get our scanner working, if the
    faxes are too long I'll post a summary and if you want a complete copy
    send me a fax # and I'll fax the fax.  I'll be as timely as possible,
    but this is informational only, so don't depend on this!  
    
    Where the fax is unreadable I put a '?'.  I'll try to be accurate but
    when reading this information keep in mind fat fingers and the fax
    itself may be blotchy.  
    
    This weekend I got the 1993  Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Landing Data report.
    
    		Current Year                          Previos Year
       		-----------------------               -------------------
        	 From 1/1 to 10/15/93                 From 1/1 to 10/14/92
    		 No. of  Average Gross**              No. of  Average Gross**
    Catagory	 fish    Weight* Weight    Quota**    fish    Weight* Weight
    ----------   ----    ------  ------    -------    ----    ------  ------
    GENERAL:	 3362	395.5   603.06     611       2456    476.0   530.3
    --------
     Handline    1276    391.2   226.44               992     488.0   220.0
     Rod & Reel  1938    391.9   344.54              1247     467.0   264.?
     Harpoon      148    477.8    32.08               217     464.0    45.?
    
    HARPOON:      308    405.0    56.58      60       308     418.0    58.?
    -------
    
    INCIDENTAL:   338    531.0    81.41      84       491     594.0   132.?
    ----------
      Longline:   328    535.4    79.66      82***    483     598.0   130.?
        North     118    429.4    22.98      28        72     411.0    13.?
        South     210    595.1    56.69      54       411     631.0   117.?
    
      Other:       10    384.6     1.74       2         8     306.0     1.?
    
    Purse Seine: 1712    380.2   295.23     302      1349     490.0   299.?
    -----------
      Giant      1699    381.0   293.62              1308     497.0   294.?
      Large med    13    272.7     1.61                41     269.0     8.?
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    GRAND TOTAL  5720    399.4  1036.27    1057      4604     488.0  1020.?
    ==========
    
    Notes:	  *	Based on Individual Weights in Pounds.
    		 **	metric tons
    		***	Allowable catch in  1993 will include adjustments for
    			overages and underages in 1992.

    Got another fax last night.  Here's a summary of the news items.
    
    1) new york bight bluefin tuna fishery is reporting good catches.  On
    fri 10/15/93 603.06mt had been reported taken from a 611 mt quota.  As
    of 10/18/93 an additional 3 mt have been taken.
    
    2) Rolland A. Schmitten officially took office as the new assistant
    administrator for fisheries on 10/18.
    
    3) The nmfs over the next few days is putting in a telephone answering
    machine that will allow the public to call in an listen to various
    messages on Highly Migratory species issues.  The public will also be
    able to leave messages.  The number will be posted on the fax net as
    soon as its operating.
    
    4) CNN will be airing a 6 part series on the "Plight of American
    Fisheries" on Monday, October 25, 1993.  Parts of the series will cover
    overfishing, bycatch problems, impacts on habitat, fish population
    trends, and the roles of science and government.  In addition, and hour
    long "special" will be aired on Sunday, October 31, 1993 at 9pm.

    I got out on the Gail Francis last weekend for school tuna. All in
    all, a disappointment - about 15 fish boated (all yellowfin and
    albacore) largest fish only about 70 lbs. Anyway, I got one hookup
    which parted the #@%#$! rental outfit line on the initial run. Even
    with this not so good trip - I'm hooked! Now, what I need to know is
    what is a good rod/reel outfit to get for standup tuna fishing, what
    lb test mono is normally used, and where can I get a gimble (sp?). Also
    prices for the above stuff (a scary question!).
    
    			Robert.

    
    
    	The stand-up rod and reel will run you about $180 - 200.  A good
    	combination would be Penn 114H (525yd/50lb) reel ($95) and a Gold
    	Cup (Model GCC53060 30-60lb) rod ($85).  The belt with out harness
    	will cost you $30 (BRAD Sailfish Belt to 60lb).  If you are going
    	to fish from a party boat I would recommend 50lb test line for
        school tuna because you can't afford to play long with a lot of
    	lines out.  If you are going to get into larger yellowfin I would
    	recommend at least 80lb test line.
    
    	All prices were quoted from Offshore Angler (1-800-633-9131).
    
    					George
    

    An outfit I had a lot of success with was a penn 50t reel loaded with
    50# ande line and 40-100# standup rod.  The reel was a close out of an 
    older model that ran me $244.  The rod was a custom rod I got for $200. 
    This outfit has handled up to #135 yellowfin and close to #200 shark
    without any problems.  I definitely recommend a lever drag reel over
    the star drag if you can afford one.  My friends fished with a 6/0 penn
    and we had one drag sieze and another time he almost was spooled.  The
    star drag reels work fine, but if you get into anything big they heat
    up pretty quick.  Don't be afraid to find a used outfit.  I've seen
    used penn internat'ls for $100.  Whatever you do, make sure you get a
    rod that has a roller stripper guide and a roller tip.  If you're gonna
    do the party boat canyon trips, you'll need to run 80# mono.  You can
    go lighter if you're on your own boat.
    
    Good luck!
    Joe

I went on a Canyon trip last year on the Gail Frances.  I used Joe's
aforementioned rod/reel.  What they recommend and what I saw most of the
"regulars" using was a 50TW or 50SW (wide is important, "S" is two-speed).  They
also recommend a minumum of 100# test as it often wraps up the other lines.
Hence the wide-body 50 (The "W"). 

I had a fish up to the surface and clear of everyone when it lunged right into
the front thruster where the 80# Ande parted instantly.  Tough to do anything
about it in this case, but 80# is probably sufficient.

Tim

    Here's the 10/22 Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Landing Data report.
    
    		Current Year                          Previos Year
       		-----------------------               -------------------
        	 From 1/1 to 10/22/93                 From 1/1 to 10/21/92
    		 No. of  Average Gross**              No. of  Average Gross**
    Catagory	 fish    Weight* Weight    Quota**    fish    Weight* Weight
    ----------   ----    ------  ------    -------    ----    ------  ------
    GENERAL:	 3379	 396.2   607.26     611      2478    476.0   535.4
    --------
     Handline    1278    391.4   226.88               993     488.0   220.15
     Rod & Reel  1953    393.2   348.30              1268     468.0   269.56
     Harpoon      148    477.8    32.08               217     464.0    45.69
    
    HARPOON:      308    405.0    56.58      60       308     418.0    58.42
    -------
    
    INCIDENTAL:   340    530.8    81.86      84       498     589.0   132.94
    ----------
      Longline:   330    535.2    80.11      82***    490     594.0   131.83
        North     120    430.4    23.43      28        79     400.0    14.35
        South     210    595.1    56.69      54       411     631.0   117.48
    
      Other:       10    384.6     1.74       2         8     306.0     1.11
    
    Purse Seine: 1713    380.1   295.34     302      1349     490.0   299.93
    -----------
      Giant      1700    380.9   293.73              1308     497.0   294.93
      Large med    13    272.7     1.61                41     269.0     5.01
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    GRAND TOTAL  5740    399.8  1041.03    1057      4633     488.0  1026.70
    ==========
    
    Notes:	  *	Based on Individual Weights in Pounds.
    		 **	metric tons
    		***	Allowable catch in  1993 will include adjustments for
    			overages and underages in 1992.

    
    
    Just a note on one of the giants that was caught here when the first
    wave came to the Mud Hole off of New Jersey. They almost broke a state
    record, missed by 1 lb. 
    
    				1,028 lbs
    
    State record is still 1,029lbs.
    
    Must be like trying to reel in a Volkswagon Beetle on hook and line!
    
    What a giant!
    
    /Irv

    
I just received the following NMFS fax.  It was faxed out on 10/13 but 
I never got it, and when it was resent to me someone left it in someone 
else' fax.  Bottom line is the quota for large school and small medium tuna 
was closed on 10/18.

	The 10/29 NMFS fax mentioned that the New York Bight General Catagory
is still open and is several tons away from a closure.  Also of interest are 
some personnel changes down in the NMFS Highly Migratory Species.  
Aaron King has left to go to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 
Program in Ca.  Dr Pamela Mace joined the staff as a fisheries scientist and
her main job will be to provide or coordinate the necessary scientific support 
for the HMS management program.  Michael Bailey also joined the HMS team and
will be involved in the Atlantic shark plan, the Atlantic swordfish plan and 
the Atlantic billfish plan.  The following is the list of the NMFS HMS 
management team:

HMS Management Division - Headquarters - Silver Spring, MD (301) 713-2347
	Richard Stone - Chief
	Rebecca Lent - Deputy chief, economist
	Pamela Mace - Fisheries biologist
	Chris Rogers - Plan/regulations coordinator
	Hoyt Wheeland - Data manager
	Ray Baglin - Tuna coordinator
	Michael Bailey - Shark, swordfish, billfish coordinator
	Carol Douglas - Secretary

Northeast Regional Coordination - Gloucester, Ma (508)281-9260
	Kevin Foster - Fisheries Management specialist

Southeast Regional Coordination -St Petersburg, Fla (813) 893-3721
	Michael Justin - Fisheries Management specialist

Here's the 10/29 Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Landing Data report.
    
    		Current Year                          Previos Year
       		-----------------------               -------------------
        	 From 1/1 to 10/29/93                 From 1/1 to 10/28/92
    		 No. of  Average Gross**              No. of  Average Gross**
    Catagory	 fish    Weight* Weight    Quota**    fish    Weight* Weight
    ----------   ----    ------  ------    -------    ----    ------  ------
    GENERAL:	 3384	 396.4   608.53     611       2480    476.0   535.80
    --------
     Handline    1278    391.4   226.88               993     488.0   220.15
     Rod & Reel  1958    393.6   349.57              1270     468.0   269.96
     Harpoon      148    477.8    32.08               217     464.0    45.69
    
    HARPOON:      308    405.0    56.58      60       308     418.0    58.42
    -------
    
    INCIDENTAL:   342    529.1    82.09      84       501     589.0   133.71
    ----------
      Longline:   332    533.5    80.34      82***    493     594.0   132.60
        North     122    427.4    23.65      28        82     406.0    15.11
        South     210    595.1    56.69      54       411     631.0   117.48
    
      Other:       10    384.6     1.74       2         8     306.0     1.11
    
    Purse Seine: 1713    380.1   295.34     302      1349     490.0   299.93
    -----------
      Giant      1700    380.9   293.73              1308     497.0   294.93
      Large med    13    272.7     1.61                41     269.0     5.01
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    GRAND TOTAL  5747    399.9  1042.53    1057      4638     488.0  1027.86
    ==========
    
    Notes:	  *	Based on Individual Weights in Pounds.
    		 **	metric tons
    		***	Allowable catch in  1993 will include adjustments for
    			overages and underages in 1992.

I read in the latest issue of the Fisherman in the fishing reports (maine) that
they were catching many large 1000lbs+ bluefin in Canada.  The season is still
open up there.

Gordon

    Gordon
    
     You recall what part of Canada?
    
     Past August number one son and I cruised by two sunning "biggies".
     This was in the extreme southern part of Nova Scotia and about 2 
     miles away where they used to have the international Tuna Tournaments.
     
     regards
     BBrown 

    Last I heard as of a couple of weeks ago they were taking fish off of PEI.

I think it was Nova Scotia but it could have been Prince Edward Island.
It caught my eye, because I thought they were headed south by this time of
year.

Gordon

    Here's a quick summary of the latest nmfs fax.  The iccat met ion
    Madrid last week and they decided to only cut the 1994 ATB quota by
    15%, from, 2394mt in 1993 to 1995 in 1994.  The US fishermen will
    receive 1243 mt, down only 5mt from 1993 because the Japanese will take 
    the majority of the quota reduction.  But, unless revised scientific
    information indicates otherwise, the 1995 western ATB quota will be cut 
    to 1200mt which the US will get 735mt.

    This month's _Harper's Magazine_ has an excellently written article
    about fishing for Bluefin Tuna.
    
    Maybe Mark Levesque was right to suggest that *all* commercial licenses
    should be cancelled....
    
    John H-C 

    re .-1
    
    > Maybe Mark Levesque was right to suggest that *all* commercial licenses
    > should be cancelled...
    
    Where do you get your facts?  Even the NMFS has admitted that their 
    VPA may not be accurate.  They're so driven by politics that they won't 
    even have a peer review of their studies.  
    
    FLAME ON
    
    Its these sweeping comments from pseudo-environmentalists about banning 
    everything BUT what they're involved in with little to no facts to back 
    them up that really P*** me off.  I agree with limits and protecting the 
    stocks, but this ban everything but 'mine' really bothers me.
    
    FLAME OFF

    Well, since I don't have the magazine article in front of me, I can't
    tell you exactly where the figures are from.
    
    Gee, that's the first time somebody ever called me a
    "pseudo-environmentalist." The titles just keep getting longer and
    longer and longer. <g>
    
    Anyway, the point the article made about dropping fish populations was
    that, in comparison with fish populations as recently as 20 years ago,
    the Bluefin Tuna population has dropped just as dramatically as the
    Atlantic Cod, Halibut, and Flounder populations. 
    
    I don't quote the NMFS, as a rule, anyway. I happen to agree with you
    on what drives them, though I'm not sure "politics" is more than a
    bogeyman here.
    
    John H-C

 Anybody see the special on TBS last night regarding bluefin tuna?

    No, I didn't. I don't suppose you taped it?
    
    John H-C

 Nope. I forgot it was on and watched NYPD Blue taped from Tuesday. When that was
over, I put it on TBS and it was 20 past already. The 40 minutes I got to see
were pretty good.

 I was quite bothered by the "environmentalist" who wanted to reduce pressure
on the tuna by eliminating the ability of "weekend warriors" to sell their
catch. He didn't say squat about the 5 purse seiners, though.

There is a Draft Enviromental Impact Study available from the NMFS by calling
301-713-2347. The reason for the study is starting next year, the quota for 
Bluefin tuna will be reduced to 50% of what we had a few years ago. The NMFS
have proposed several ways to allocate these fish. Also they have data to show
under different plans, how long it will take for the stocks to recover to where
the science think the stocks are at a safe level.

Being a director of The General Catagory Tuna Association I have the fun of 
working on a position statement. But all is not lost yet, for those that feel 
that the science of fisheries management has been put aside for the politics of
conservation, there is a "peer review" being conducted be an independent 
commission of scientists. 

Steve

    re : .80
    
    	I wish I saw the show - I agree that environmentalist doesn't sound
    	fair, both groups should share the burden
    
    re: .81
    
    	I'm a bit confused by your note - you say the NMFS has done the
    studies, they've determined how to restore the tuna stock, but you
    don't like what they found? Is the problem the way that they plan on
    allocating the catch? The amount they plan on reducing the catch?
    
    You mentioned something about the science of fisheries management being
    controlled by the politics of conservation - THAT sure would be a
    switch! I've always seen fisheries management as being controlled by
    greed.
    
    		Robert.
    

	I caught most of the show and it was quite informative.
	Good points made by both sides on each of their views.

	I found it interesting to know that the Giant Bluefin migrate
	from the Gulf of Mexico up along the Gulf Stream on our east coast
	but a certaing % head east to the Mediteranian,  Forget % but think
	it was 30% or so?

	Also the Tuna restrictions stop halfway across the Atlantic and there
	are none in Europe.  So they said the Japanese may be catching them
	on the "restricted side" but claiming the catch on the "non restricted"
	side of the line.

	Bummer
	-< Tuna Tail >-		Giant Bluefin 310 lbs off Chatham, MA :^)

>Forget % but think it was 30% or so?

 10%

    The report I have been waiting for on the science the NMFS uses to set
    the Bluefin quotas was released yesterday. The Globe/AP has a short
    story on it. 
    
    	* Stocks have neither declined nor increased since the late 1980's
    
    	* Earlier analyses used as a basic for present bluefin management
          are not the most scientifically defensible.
    
    	* The NMFS should recalculate the figures it uses to set legal
          catch limits, to better account for the bluefin's migration
    	  patterns.
    
    	* The NMFS said, the study's findings were encouraging, but it's
    	  clear that bluefin stocks are only a fraction of what they once
    	  were. 
    
    I have to wonder where the NMFS is coming from. I agree there doesn't
    seem to be as many fish as the old days, but...
    
    	 
        There are more people fishing now.
    
    	NMFS doesn't have data from the early years.
     
      	NMFS won't use pictures from spotter planes showing huge schools of
        bluefins.
    
    	The tuna swim both sides of the Atlantic
    
    	From the above report, it seems their science is bad.
    
    
    Steve
    
    	

	I haven't received the official notice yet, but rumor has it that the
commercial bluefin tuna season is supposed to reopen for 3 days September 15th,
16th and 17th.  Can anyone confirm or deny this?  In the season closure notice I
received it implied that the season could reopen to provide an opportunity in 
areas where bluefin are usually only caught in the late summer/early fall
migration.  If this is true I know where I'll be on those 3 days!

Dave (AKA BaitMaster)

    I spoke to the nmfs a few weeks ago.  it'll open on 9/15, and we'll get
    25mt, maybe a little more.  theye didn't know where the opening would
    be tho.  she kind of implied that it'll be south of nh, but didn't say
    where.

    Just called nmfs to see what's up.  re.-2 was correct.  looks like a 3
    day opening, 41mt available.  8mt of that 41mt is for ny bight only. 
    rest is avail for everybody.  if the quota is not filled, it'll be
    reopened.  3 day opening is based on catch rates of august.

FYI

A friend of mine in a sailboat off gloucester spotted 3 tuna busting bait (blues)
last weekend.  They were coming back from the cape so they probably wern't too
far off Thachers Island heading for Newburyport.

Gordon

NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS BLUEFIN TUNA POPULATION IS
=============================================
STABLE IN WESTERN ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sept. 2, 1994)
================================================



NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
=======================================


Office of News and Public Information
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20418

Date: Aug. 31, 1994
Contacts: Craig Hicks, Media Relations Associate, George Georgountzos, Media
Relations Assistant
Telephone: (202) 334-2138 
E-Mail: news@nas.edu



NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS BLUEFIN TUNA POPULATION IS
=============================================
STABLE IN WESTERN ATLANTIC OCEAN
================================

   WASHINGTON -- There is no evidence that there are fewer bluefin tuna in
   the western Atlantic Ocean now than during the late 1980s, concludes a new
   report* from a committee of the National Research Council. The
   committee's reanalysis of government data calls into question earlier reports
   of sharp decline that resulted in stricter western Atlantic fishing quotasand
   appeals from environmental groups for endangered species protection.

   The committee also uncovered strong evidence of "mixing" among bluefin
   between western and eastern Atlantic fisheries, which are subject to different
   regulations. This evidence could have implications for western Atlantic
   fishermen, who feel that their conservation efforts benefit their quota-free
   counterparts in the east.

   "Earlier analyses used as a basis for present bluefin fishery management are
   not the most scientifically defensible," said committee chair John J.
   Magnuson, professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
   "Our reanalysis indicates that Atlantic bluefin tuna have neither declined nor
   increased in recent years."

   To improve the accuracy of future bluefin population assessments, the
   committee recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service
   (NMFS), the federal agency that has conducted much of the research in this
   area, improve its methods for collecting, managing, and analyzing data on
   bluefin abundance. Improved data management would minimize the errors
   inherent in large databases such as those used for stock assessments. The
   committee also called for new NMFS assessments that explicitly account for
   bluefin mixing. Failure to consider fish movement between eastern and
   western fishing areas was one factor that skewed analyses in previous years.
   NMFS should recalculate the maximum sustainable yield -- a number used
   to set legal catch limits -- taking such movement into account, the
   committee said. 

   Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries are regulated under a 1966 treaty that
   established the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
   Tunas. The commission coordinates international research on Atlantic tunas
   and proposes fishing quotas for consideration by its 22 member nations,
   including the United States, Canada, Japan, Spain, and France.

   The commission began using a two-stock model to manage bluefin fishing in
   1982, based on the assumption that there are two separate populations of
   bluefin that can be managed independently -- one that inhabits the eastern
   Atlantic, and another that stays primarily to the west. Western and eastern
   Atlantic management areas are divided by the 45 degree longitude extending
   from the tip of Greenland due south between South America and Africa.
   Each management area encompasses a major tuna spawning ground -- the
   Gulf of Mexico in the west and the Mediterranean in the east. Conservation
   efforts are now in place on both sides of the Atlantic, but each side is
   managed separately and quotas are in effect only in the west, where member
   nations have agreed to them.

MAJOR QUESTIONS REMAIN

   Research on the biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna is not continuing at an
   intensity necessary to answer major questions relevant to management of the
   fisheries, the committee said. Important data on the bluefin are lacking,
   particularly on genetic stock structure and spawning habits.

   The committee recommended that NMFS and its parent agency, the National
   Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, work cooperatively with the
   international commission to carry out the research needed to address the
   following issues:

   - While tagging data show that there is movement of bluefin tuna between
   the eastern and western Atlantic fishing grounds, whether they are
   interbreeding in spawning areas is unclear; this information is essential for
   confirming that the Atlantic bluefin are from one stock, rather than two.

   - Estimating the number of bluefin that return to spawn in the same area each
   year is essential for stock assessments. Analysis of tell-tale chemical
   signatures in bones of some bluefin, and archival tags attached to others,
   should be used to provide information on spawning fidelity.

   - Stock assessments should be refined through better knowledge of bluefin
   characteristics such as how many eggs are produced at spawning, how many
   young are hatched and survive, the ratio of females to males, the age at
   maturity, and fertility rates. 

   - Knowledge of movement patterns, which can change over time, is essential
   for estimating abundance and distribution. A tagging program, using a
   combination of conventional and electronic tags, should be undertaken to
   improve estimates of the magnitude and patterns of movement. This program
   should be designed to answer scientific questions pertinent to stock
   assessment and should be coordinated among all nations involved in the
   bluefin tuna fishery.

   - Population estimates are confounded by the interaction between fishing and
   changes in bluefin distribution caused by long-term variations in weather
   patterns and ocean currents. What's needed is an analysis of existing data on
   distributions of bluefin tuna in relation to the changes in ocean conditions.

   - Atlantic bluefin tuna are remarkable fish of considerable value, often
   bringing a selling price of more than $10,000 each on the raw seafood market
   in Japan. Bluefin tuna are among the largest bony fishes in the ocean. They
   can reach lengths of more than 10 feet, weights of more than 1,200 pounds,
   and have a natural life span of more than 30 years.


   The National Research Council is the principal operating agency of the
   National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. It
   is a private, non-profit institution that provides science and technology
   advice under a congressional charter. 

   The committee's work was conducted with technical support from the
   Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. Funding for the study was
   provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce. A committee roster is
   overleaf.



   *The report, An Assessment of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, is available from the
   National Academy Press at the mailing address in the letterhead; tel. (202)
   334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242. The cost of the report is $29.00 (prepaid) plus
   shipping charges of $4.00 for the first copy and $.50 for each additional copy.
   Reporters may obtain copies from the Office of News and Public Information
   at the letterhead address (contacts listed above).



   [Internet availability: This announcement is available on the WorldWide
   Web at http://www.nas.edu; via Gopher at gopher.nas.edu; and via FTP at
   ftp.nas.edu/pub/.] 



   NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
   +++++++++++++++++++++++++
   Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources Ocean Studies
   +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
   Board
   +++++
   Committee to Review Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

   John J. Magnuson (chair), Professor of Zoology, Director Center for
   Limnology, University of Wisconsin,Madison

   Barbara Block, Assistant Professor Hopkins Marine Laboratory, Stanford
   University, Stanford, Calif.

   Richard B. Deriso, Chief Scientist Inter-American Tropical Tuna
   Commission Scripps, Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif.

   John R. Gold, Professor of Genetics, Director Biosystematics and
   Biodiversity, Texas A&M University, College Station

   William Stewart Grant, Associate Professor Department of Genetics Wits
   University, Johannesburg, South Africa

   Terrance J. Quinn, Associate Professor Juneau Center School of Fisheries
   and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska, Juneau

   Saul B. Saila, Professor Emeritus of Oceanography Graduate School of
   Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett

   Lynda Shapiro, Professor of Biology, Director Institute of Marine Biology,
   University of Oregon, Charleston

   E. Don Stevens, Professor of Zoology, University of Guelph, Ontario,
   Canada

   RESEARCH COUNCIL STAFF

   Mary Hope Katsouros, Director, Ocean Studies Board

   Robin Peuser, Study Director


       ONPI Home PageNAS Home Page


% ====== Internet headers and postmarks (see DECWRL::GATEWAY.DOC) ======
% Received: from inet-gw-3.pa.dec.com by us2rmc.zko.dec.com (5.65/rmc-22feb94) id AA13899; Thu, 8 Sep 94 08:22:36 -040
% Received: from crankn.mgeic.mko.dec.com by inet-gw-3.pa.dec.com (5.65/10Aug94) id AA15251; Thu, 8 Sep 94 05:18:59 -070
% Received: by crankn.mgeic.mko (5.57/Ultrix3.0-C) id AA15967; Thu, 8 Sep 94 08:21:19 -040
% Date: Thu, 8 Sep 94 08:21:19 -0400
% From: joyce@crankn.mgeic.mko.dec.com (Steve Joyce)
% Message-Id: <9409081221.AA15967@crankn.mgeic.mko>
% Subject: tuna report
% Content-Type: text/plain
% Mime-Version: 1.0
% X-Courtesy-Of: NCSA Mosaic 2.2 on DEC Ultrix
% X-Url: http://xerxes.nas.edu:70/1/onpi/pr/bluefin
% Apparently-To: solvit::joyce

    Sweet success at last!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Tim and I landed our first Giant on 9/15/94 at approx 5PM.
    
    The fish dressed at 415LBS (approx 550lbs whole weight).
    Was caught off Halibut point on a herring chunk.
    Details to follow on a cold winters day.
    
    Bruce

    After a frustrating season, we also hooked up.  Dennis "relax-Pat" Bak, 
    Pat "hard-to-port" Leach and I got one around 930 am last thurs.  It was 
    a small fish, 297# dressed, taken from Jeffries on a frozen mack chunk.

Congradulations  on the tuna.

I was out Friday striper and bluefishing and there must have been 1000 boats
stretched out from as far as you could see towards Halibut pt. and 3/4 of
the way to the Isle of Shoals.

Lots of tuna brought into Newburyport.

I heard someone calling Sweet Dream II but couldn't hear the answer.

I'm suprised the tuna were in so close 4-5 miles out of the merrimack.

I hope you got good $$ for the fishes

Gordon

    It was probably me on the Lucy J calling Bruce. I had to wait until
    Friday, 11:00am for my number to come up. Dressed at 326 lbs. It's
    great seeing Joe and Bruce landing the big ones.
    
    
    Steve

Well we finally caught a big boy aboard my friends boat the Wendy Leigh !!  After
fishing Thursday and Friday from dawn to dusk without success, we finally caught
a giant bluefin.  It weighed 835lb and dressed at 645lbs.  We hooked up at 8:15
AM on a live mackeral.  We were about 6 miles due east of the Merrimack in the
middle of the fleet Gordon mentioned in an earlier reply.  We fought the fish for
1.5 hours on rod and reel.  Thank God he didn't hit one of the handlines.  With
the help of 3 guys we knew in a boat anchored up near us, it took 45 minutes for
the 5 of us to get the fish aboard through the transom door - he almost didn't
fit through it!  After haggling with 3 different buyers for an hour, the fish
was sold and tagged at 11:56 with just 4 minutes remaining in the season.  We
were very lucky to land this fish because he was only lip hooked. I guess my
lucky fishing shirt still has it's magic!

Dave (AKA Baitmaster)  

I have a few questions that maybe some of you can answer.

Dave, Where did you find the live mackeral.  I'd like to try livelining them for
stripers before the end of the season.

Back to tuna
After you catch one, how do you prep it for sale.
I know that you put it on ice ASAP.  The ones that I have seen at Hiltons dock
have the gills cut out on one side and the guts removed thru the gill area and
the fish is packed with ice.  Is there a particular side to cut?
Is there a recommended procedure?

Were all the different buyers at Hiltons/tricoastal or did you haggle ove the
radio.  How do you know if you're getting a good price (experience?)

Maybe I'll try next year.

Gordon

    	Does the season end on a particular day, or is it after a quota is
    reached ? It almost sounded like you could be heading in with a tuna
    and the season could close before you sold the fish.
    
    	RAYJ

I got the mackeral while at anchor fishing for tuna.  There were a lot of spike
mackeral (6" or less) all around the boat.  I was also able to jig up a couple
of tinker mackeral (10"-12") which is what we had on the hook.

As far as preping the tuna for sale - we didn't even bother because we were so
close to shore and we didn't want to run the risk of running out of time before
the close of the season at noon.  This is why we knew the total weight.  Usually
to prepare a tuna, it should be bled by cutting slits near the tail.  To gut the
fish you sever the gill plates (muscles) and cut around the vent.  If all goes
well you can easily pull the guts out from the gill and flush with water.  You
should sever both gills and it makes no difference which you use.

The buyers were at both Tricoastal (1) and at Hilton's (2).  We negotiated a bit
with one of the buyers at Hilton's to up his original bid by over a dollar.  Also
the buyer at Tricoastal offered us less then half per pound then we ended up
selling it for.

It's a lot of fun but it can also be expensive and a lot of work.

Dave

The Marine Fisheries folks keep track of the quota and based on landings rates,
determine that the quota will be reached on a certain day and notify permit
holders of the season closure.  This year they closed the season in August and
once the totals were calculated, they found out that about 40 tons still
remained to be caught.  Therefore they decided to open the season for just 3 days
9/15 thru 9/17.  There were so many fish caught in the 3 days, they decided to
close the season 12 hours early at noon, instead of the planned midnight on the
17th.  The numbers I've heard was the there was 45 tons caught on the 15th and
55 tons caught on the 16th and I haven't heard how much was caught on the 17th.
I think it's safe to say that next year's quota will be reduced by between 50 and
100 tons because we ended up catching much more then they planned on the 3 days
season reopening.

    The word I have is 90 mt were landed over those three days.
    	270 fish on Thursday
    	200 fish on Friday
    	 40 fish on Saturday
    
    Steve

    If anyone has any interest in this fishery, I suggest you attend the
    scoping meetings being held the next few weeks by the NMFS.
    Call NMFS at 508-713-2347 for a schedule if I forget to bring it in.
    The feds have set a control date to freeze the general category permits
    at current levels. At this time you can still enter the fishery, but
    may not be able to fish in the future. Many other issues will be aired.
    
    Steve

    Sorry, try Ray Baglin at 508-281-9140 or Keven Foster at 508-281-9260.
    The other number was for the NMFS in Washington, 301-713-2347.
    
    Steve

    That one worked.  Looks like there'll be a meeting at the fish expo,
    10/13.  It starts at 5 to talk about yellowfin, then sharks at 6, and
    from 7-9 bluefin.  He said that if nobody's interested in the
    shark/yellowfin, they'ld probably dedicate the whole time to the
    bluefin.
    
    On a related note, there's an article in the morning's manchester
    useless leader about a petition to ban the sale of bluefin by sport
    fisherman.  The petition, based in Maine, is seeking to ban anyone from
    selling bluefin that don't make at least 75% of their income from
    fishing.  The article goes on to say that the men and women that fish
    for a living are tired of sharing the bluefin with welders, doctors and
    lawyers.  Interesting tht a) these are the same people that slaughtered
    the fish early in the season for rock bottom prices, and b) these same
    people think its ok to fish in other fisheries the rest of the year but
    when the giants are around only they are allowed to catch them.  
    
    Steve, do you know what GCTA's stand is on this issue? 

    There was a meeting of the GCTA's board last night. I wasn't able to
    attend. I can tell you there is no support for that type of
    restriction. As you can see, the battle lines are being drawn. All of
    us that are reading this notes file are the guys the commercial guys
    are going after. They believe they own all the fish in the ocean. They
    won't accept use catching and selling their fish. It is also going one
    step further, the want to stop catch and release of bluefin. They claim
    most of the fish are being killed during the fight. It's letter writing
    time...
    
    
    Steve

     So what do they plan on doing after they kill all the tuna? Create a
    market for dogfish?
    
     I sometimes think there are no greedier humans alive than commercial
    fishermen.

    > So what do they plan on doing after they kill all the tuna? Create a
    >    market for dogfish?
    They have, one guy in Seabrook had a boat made just to catch dogfish
    a few weeks this summer. They got 12 to 14 cent a pound back to the
    boat. At one time in Aug. the crew was all happy, They had just broke
    the 1 million pound mark. This is just one boat. I give the dogs 5
    more years before there're history.
    
     >I sometimes think there are no greedier humans alive than commercial
     >   fishermen.
      I can't argue here. It's, kill them now before the next guy does.
    
    Steve

Who buys dogfish?  What is the market? 
Is this any different from any other kind of shark market?

thanks,
...bill

    I talked to one fish buyer in Gloucester and the most of the dogfish
    go to England for fish and chips. I have already noticed the decline
    in the number of dogfish in the last couple of years. A few years
    ago you could not tunafish without catching them in annoying numbers.
    This year I think we caught 2 or 3 in 6 trips. You hear the
    commercials on the radio talking about the large and small dogs and
    how many boxes they got....I think the dogs may have been paying more
    per pound than bluefish from the what I heard.
    
    
    Steve, who do I write to?
    
    Joe, is the meeting on the 13th in Boston? Where? Since I have moved
    the NMFS mailings take a while to catch up to me.
    
    Bruce

    The guy said it would be thursday night at the fish expo. 

    Just called Kevin Foster.  Its 5pm at the Hynes Auditorium on 10/13. 
    They couldn't get enough room at the fish expo, so they moved to the
    Hynes.  It'll cover yellowfin, shark and bluefin.  Bluefin is
    anticipated to start around 7pm, but may start earlier depending on
    demand.

							Stephen M. Joyce
							12 Dover Ave.
							Hampton Bch. NH 03842 


Richard B. Stone
NMFS - Atlantic Tuna Comments
1315 East - West Hwy. 
Silver Spring, MD 20910

CC: Richard H. Schaefer - F/CM


Bluefin Tuna 1994 EIS Comments

Peer Review
I urge the NMFS to accept the findings of the NRC which include:

- Use mixing rate between eastern and western stocks when estimating tuna 
  abundance
- Use genetic testing to show linkage between east and west stocks
- Correct errors in Rod and Reel data

ICCAT
- The NMFS and the US ICCAT delegates to the meeting in Madrid, must make a 
  motion to rescind the 50%  reduction in the Western Atlantic quota in 1995.
- Based on the information presented in the NRC study of the NMFS stock 
  science another motion should be made to return the Western Atlantic quota 
  to pre 1992 level of 2660 Mt.

Rule Changes, Enforcement Issue  
(Note: Comments presented here are rumor and/or hearsay. I have no direct 
 knowledge of wrongdoing)
- General/Angler Category Permits, issuing these to the same boat was a big 
  mistake. It should be set up so that each boat chooses which category it 
  wishes to fish in. If when the General Category closes and a boat wishes to
  fish in the Angling Category, an enabling letter could be issued.
- Landing multiple fish, this is a big problem. A new regulation should be 
  written to stop this. A suggestion: Any vessel in possession of a tuna, i.e.
  tied to the vessel or in the vessel, shall not have any lines or gear 
  extending from the vessel to the water which are capable of catching/landing
  a Bluefin tuna. This will, with the above, single permit per vessel, should 
  keep people from either culling out the better of the two fish or handing one
  off to an ther vessel.
- Multiple boats/one anchor, this is another way to make it easy to pass off a 
  fish to another boat. If they want to tie of one another, then don't allow 
  any lines in the water. This happens quite often with the larger vessel 
  towing a skiff which has a valid tuna permit.
- Harpoon Vessels , the problem here again is the transferring of harpoon fish 
  to a vessel with a General category permit while the General category is 
  open. The reverse is true when the General category is closed. Remove the 
  Harpoon category, place the vessels in the General Category. 
- Longline Landings, there are vessels along the Middle Atlantic coast that are
  fishing with gillnets, then target Bluefin Tuna with handlines. I believe 
  the 1500lb requirement to land a Bluefin tuna as by-catch is 	too low. I'd 
  like to see only vessels that are truly fishing with longlines, be able to 
  land tuna as a by-catch if the meet the catch requirements.
- Angling Landings, the fish landed under the Angling permit should be weighted
  and tagged. This will provide a total picture of where and how many fish a 
  caught in the category.
- Opening Date, in order to maximize the value and protect against waste, poor
  quality, culling, the season shouldn't be opened until after the first week 
  of August.


Quota Issues, Limit Access
The General category has almost 10000 permit holders and receives less than 50%
of the fish. The time has come to reallocate a major share of the quota to the
General Category.  When you look at the ACS generated in this category, the 
numbers are enormous. A large percentage of the General category boats spend 
discretionary income on the following:
- Vessel Size, needs to be large enough to travel safely to the fishing grounds
  in varying weather conditions
- Fixed Costs, mortgages, commercial insurance, slip and boat maintenance
- Variable Costs, bait, fuel, ice, fishing tackle, lodging, safety equipment 
  (to meet the Coast Guard safety regs.)

I like many people have upgraded to a larger boat specifically to chase 
Bluefin tuna. By allowing the season to close early I spend less money. 
If I wasn't allowed to sell my catch, I as many owners, would downsize to a 
smaller vessel. The ACS would only be a fraction of what it was. There is more 
money generated in the pursuit of the Bluefin than from the direct sale of the
fish. 

- Quota Alternatives, while examining the EIS, it became obvious that the best
  means for stock recovery would be the "Elimination of the small fish fishery".
  It would appear there would be a large loss in the ACR with this option. But
  the support data used is pre-1992 before the size was raised and a no sale of
  small fish was added. I would bet that the Party/Head boats south of New 
  England have or will switch to another species (Table 3.1, page 99) this is 
  not an option in New England, there are no other pelagic game fish.

- Limited Access, IQT's, I believe everyone should have the right to fish for 
  these tuna. But at some point because of the small amount of fish available 
  under the quota system, it might become necessary to explore a better way of
  insuring fair access for everyone. But, because of a petition being 
  circulated in Maine, calling for a ban on the sale of Bluefin caught by non 
  full time fishermen, I will be reserving comment on this issue for another 
  letter.

I look forward to the scoping meetings next week, hopefully one will be 
scheduled in New Hampshire.

							Stephen M. Joyce
							12 Dover Ave.
							Hampton Bch. NH 03842
							603-926-5177

							September 24, 1994

Judd Gregg - US Senate, NH
Bob Smith -  US Senate, NH
William Zeliff, Jr. - US House, NH

Re: 1994 Bluefin Tuna season comments
       
It must be the Fall season, time to ask for your help again to insure that we 
are allowed to fish for Bluefin tuna next summer. I spend one month fishing 
and 11 months trying to protect my right to fish, by writing letters and 
reading about proposed regulations. 

The Bluefin tuna season was closed in record time this year, Aug. 15. There 
was an additional two day opening in September, the 15th and 16th. The fish 
caught in the July and August time frame were of a smaller size and poorer 
quality (color and fat content) than the fish caught in September.

Some comments and suggestions:

*	The season opening should be delayed until August 10th (just after the
        Japan holiday) to maximize the economic value to the fishermen. There 
        are reports of fish taken to the dump because of poor quality.
 
*	The NMFS needs to use the daily fax landing reports, which are required
         by law. It appears the by-weekly green cards were used again this 
        year. The 65 Mt. set aside for September turned out to be 23 Mt.

*	The NRC's (Natl. Research Council)  report, also known as the 
        Independent Peer Review, findings give hope that science and not 
        politics will drive the management of this fishery in the future.
	Some findings:
	- Bluefin tuna is a $100 million industry in New England.
	- Bluefin stocks have remained stable since the late 1980's.
	- "Earlier analyses used as a basis for present Bluefin management are
          not the most scientifically defensible" says John J. Magnuson who 
         chaired the committee.
	- The NMFS should recalculate the figures it uses to set the catch 
          limits.

*	Because of the NRC's report the NMFS must at the ICCAT meetings this 
        fall make a motion to table the automatic 50% reduction in the quota 
        slated for the 1995 tuna season.
	NMFS should also make a motion to restore the quota to 2660 Mt. that 
        we have been fishing for in the years 1983-1991. This is only fair to 
        the US fishermen who are the only ones that have landing restriction 
        imposed on them.

*	There is also a reference being made by NMFS and other groups that the
        Bluefin stocks are only a fraction of what they once were.  These 
        comments are coming from people that have no hard data from the period,
        the early 1970's. At the time there was a seine and a longline fishery
        from Japan fishing for these fish. There was sport fishing, but no 
        landing data was required at that time. So how can these statements 
        have any valid basis in fact when you also consider that the NMFS has 
        had an additional 20 years to develop a program and computer model to 
        measure the size of the bluefin stocks. They have failed according to 
        the NRC report.

*	Bluefin tuna fishing is a New England Fishing industry, it only make 
        sense that the management science should be based in the NE area, 
        ( Woods Hole).

*	There are hearings and public scoping meetings scheduled in Maine and 
        Mass. during the month of October. They are being held to discuss Draft
        EIS which contains proposals that may limit entry, install IQT's, or 
        stop all tuna fishing. 

I'd like to thank you for your support last year and hope you can get involved
this year to insure that New England get fair treatment at the ICCAT meetings 
this fall.

    re: last two, I hope they are readable. I wrote them in MS Word. They
    didn't copy very well as text files.
    
    scoping meetings in NE area:
    
    Oct 3 5:00pm
    Jordans Seafood Restraurant
    700 Main St.
    S. Portland ME
    
    Oct 4 5:00pm
    Plymouth High School
    Obery St.
    Plymouth MA
    
    Oct 13 5:00pm
    Hynnes Convention Center
    900 Boyleston St
    Boston, MA
    
    Steve

    
    
    	Good Stuff Steve.
    
    	Could you post the address for 
    	Judd Gregg - US Senate, NH
    
    	Bob Smith -  US Senate, NH
    
    	William Zeliff, Jr. - US House, NH
    
    		Thanks
    		George (JOY III)
    

    If anyone is interested the will be a meeting of the General Category 
    Tuna Association Dec. 3 at 9:30 AM. It is being held at the Sheraton
    Hotel, Plymouth MA.
    I'm not sure if it's open to non-members, but I brought a friend last
    year who later joined. They didn't check names at the door. 
    
    I should be interesting,
    
    ICCAT update, meetings are going on this week in Spain to set
    allocations for next year.
    
    Brad Chase, I think he is from the Mass. Fisheries Service. 
    
    Someone fron the Boston Aquarium to discuss the survey done by spotter
    planes.
    
    The Feds rule making. This will be a mess....
    
    
    
    Steve
      

    We ended up ok at the Iccat meeting.
    Quota for the Western Atlantic 1994 was 1995 mt.
      "    "   "     "       "     1995-6 will be  2200 mt.
    Quota for 1983-91 was 2600 mt.
    
    The US get 60 mt. more than this year for next two years.
    
    Agreement on there being only one Atlantic stock.
    
    At the 2200 mt landings there is around a %85 probability the stocks 
    will recover by %20 in 5 years.
    
    They will find a way to add mixing of the east and west stocks which
    will increase the numbers.
    
    Whats next???
    
    The season needs to be extended. Some plans floating around are to have
    a four day fish week, Wed-Sat and monthly quotas.
    Get the feds to reallocate the US quota to provide the General Category
    with more fish for the 11,000 + users. (This really means taking fish 
    from the seiners)
    
    later
    Steve
    

    	What are the current Coast Guard Safety requirements for fishing
    	for Bluefin tuna.   I am making out my Christmas list and I want
    	make sure I have everything listed.  I know the requirements are
    	different for boat size but I am not sure of all the other
    	requirements.  Listed are my boat spec's;
    
    		Type:	Eastern Lobster boat style
    		Size:	27'
    		Sleeps: 2 with small galley w/head
    		Eng:	I/O
    

Because your boat has sleeping quarters and a galley you'll need all the safety
equipment for a commercial vessel, including a SOLAS life raft starting 9/15/95
as I unterstand the new regulations.  I don't have the CG safety reg with me,
but as I recall the list is as follows:

	- Category I EPIRB (I've heard rumors that a Category II EPIRB may be
	  acceptable for some vessels next year but I'm not sure.  Both are
	  satelite 406 EPIRBs, but the Category I is automatically deployed
	  where II must be manually activated).

	- Survival suits for all hands

	- 2 communications devices, 1 of which must be independent of the boat's
	  power supply.  A VHF radio and a portable cellular phone work fine.

	- Commercial distress signals which include parachute flares and several
	  other types of flares.  The kit usually runs around $250.

	- A SOLAS life raft is supposed to be required on all vessels as of the
	  15th of September next year, but I've heard conflicting rumors on this
	  one.

	- Commercial life vests for all hands.

	- 24" orange ring bouy with I think 50' of line attached.  The bouy
	  must have the vessel's name/reg #s perminantely marked on it.

	- As well as the usual stuff like nav lights, horn, fire ext, etc.  A
	  Halon system may also be required but I'm not sure.

	That's all that I can recall.  There may be other items but I'm fairly
sure of the above.  Give the CG a call.  The booklet I got from them is a couple
of years old and I know things are a changing...

Hope you catch the big one...
Dave

    re: -1
    
    On the raft, if you are state registered you only need a IBA. I checked
    prices at the commercial show and for a few extra $$$ you can go with a
    coastal raft. Now that I think of it the show prices were lower for the
    rafts.
    
    You can call the CG at Boston at 617-223-3020 and ask for a info
    package.
    
    Steve

    
    
    	Thanks for all the input on my needs.  I have contacted Boston and
    	they are making me up a package for all my needs and also detailing
    	what new regulation that are forthcoming.  
    
    		George (JOY III)
    

When you get the regulations from the CG coould you post them here?

Thanks,

	FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS

	This was extracted from the pamphlet for requirements for commercial
	fishing vessels which was mailed to me on December 9, 1994.

        The listed information should only be used a a easy reference
	guide for people wanting to start commercial fishing (Tuna).  For
	the current requirements and for more information you should contact 
	Andy Hammond (United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, Boston)
	at 617-223-3020.


PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES

	Each vessel must carry at least one CG approved device of the proper
	size for each person on board.  All devices are required to have
	31 square inches of retroreflective tape on the front and back of 
	each reversible side.  All devices on vessels on ocean, coastwise and
	Great Lakes voyages are required to have a Coast Guard approved PFD
	light (approval series 161.012).


Area of
Operation			Vessel Type		Device
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seaward of the Boundary		Documented Vessels	Immersion Suit
Line, and north of 32 deg.
North or south of 32 deg.
South or Great Lakes
	
Coastal Waters or beyond	All Vessels		Immersion Suit
Cold Waters		  	(This area MAY, JUNE,
				and OCTOBER)

All other Waters		Less than 40'		Type I, II, III,
				(This area July, 	Type V hybrid, or
				August, and Sept)	Immersion Suit

All other Waters		40' and Longer		Type I, Type V or
							Immersion Suit



THROWABLE FLOTATION DEVICES

Vessel Length			Devices Required
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 16 feet			None

16 Feet or More			1 Ring Life Buoy with 60 feet
but less than 26 feet.		of line or 1 buoy cushion (type IV)

26 feet or more			1 Orange Ring Life Buoy at least 24"
but less than 65 feet		inch size with 60 feet of line.

65 feet or more			3 Orange Ring Life Buoys at least 24"
				inch size with 90 feet of line.



SURVIVAL CRAFT

	Survival craft are required for the total number of persons on board 
	as determined by the following tables.  Vessels with less than 4 
	individuals on board that operate within 12 miles of the coast line
	are not required to carry survival craft at this time.

	Survival Craft Requirements for all Documented Vessels and for
	Undocumented Vessels with more than 16 persons on board.

	Area		Vessel Type	Requirements
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beyond 50 miles 	All		Inflatable Liferaft with SOLAS A Pack.

20 - 50 miles of 	All		Inflatable Liferaft with SOLAS B Pack.
Coast (Cold Waters)

20 - 50 miles of 	All		Inflatable Liferaft with Coastal Pack.
Coast (Warm Waters)

Within 20 miles of 	All		Inflatable Liferaft with Coastal Pack.
Coast (Cold Waters)

Within 20 miles of 	All		Life Float.
Coast (Warm Waters)



	Survival Craft Requirements for all Undocumented Vessels 
	with fewer than 16 persons on board. (Effective Sept 1, 1995)

	Area		Vessel Type	Requirements
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beyond 20 miles 	All		Inflatable buoyant apparatus.

		(May,June,October this Area)
Within 20 miles of 	All		Inflatable buoyant apparatus.
Coast (Cold Waters)

		(July,August,September this Area)	
Within 20 miles of 	All		Life Float.
Coast (Warm Waters)


STOWAGE OF SURVIVAL CRAFT

	Each inflatable liferaft that is required to be equipped with a SOLAS
	A or B equipment pack must be stowed so as to float free and 
	automatically inflate in the event the vessel sinks.

	Each inflatable liferaft, inflatable buoyant apparatus and any auxiliary
	craft used in their place must be kept readily accessible for launching
	or be stowed so that they will float free if the vessel sinks.

	Each Hydrostatic release unit used in float free arrangement must have
	a Coast Guard approval number starting with 160.062.

	Each Float free link used with a buoyant apparatus or life float must
	be certified to meet 46 CFR, sub part 160.073.


LIFE FLOAT AND BUOYANT APPARATUS EQUIPMENT.

	Each life float and buoyant apparatus must be fitted with a lifeline,
	pendants, a painter, and a floating electric water light that has a
	CG approval number starting with 161.010.


LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT MARKING

	After Sept. 1,1992 all lifesaving equipment must be marked as follows:

ITEM			MARKING				TYPE OF RETROREFLECTIVE
							MATERIAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFD TYPE I,II,III,	Vessel name, or name of owner		I or II
Wearable Type V, or	of device, or name of individual
Immersion Suit.		to whom it is assigned.

Ring Life Buoy		Name of Vessel				II

Inflatable Liferaft	See Note

Inflatable Buoyant	See Note
Apparatus

Life Float		Name of Vessel				II

Buoyant Apparatus	Name of Vessel				II

Auxiliary Craft		Name of Vessel				II

EPIRB			Name of Vessel				II



SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT

ITEM			INTERVAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inflatable wearable	Annually.  Item shall be serviced in accordance with
PFD (Type V) 		manufacturer's guidelines.

Other PFD's and		Inspect, clean, and repair as necessary.
Immersion suits.	

Buoyant apparatus	Inspect, clean, and repair as necessary.
and life floats.

Inflatable liferaft.	Service annually. Inflatable liferafts,inflatable
			buoyant apparatus, and hydrostatic releases must be
			serviced at a facility specifically approved by the
			Coast Guard.  (Except for inflatable liferafts or
			inflatable buoyant apparatus less than two years old).

Inflatable buoyant 	Service annually. Inflatable liferafts,inflatable
Apparatus.		buoyant apparatus, and hydrostatic releases must be
			serviced at a facility specifically approved by the
			Coast Guard.  (Except for inflatable liferafts or
			inflatable buoyant apparatus less than two years old).




SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT (Continued)



ITEM			INTERVAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hydrostatic release.	Service annually. Inflatable liferafts,inflatable
			buoyant apparatus, and hydrostatic releases must be
			serviced at a facility specifically approved by the
			Coast Guard.  (Except for inflatable liferafts or
			inflatable buoyant apparatus less than two years old).

Disposable Hydrostatic	Replace by expiration date.
release.

EPIRB			Test Monthly.

Dated batteries and	Replace by expiration date.
other items.

Undated Batteries.	Replace annually.

Water Activated		Replace by expiration date or whenever they are used or
batteries.		exposed to water, whichever comes first.




DISTRESS SIGNALS


        Vessels operation on ocean waters more than 50 miles from the Coast-
        line are required to carry 3 parachute flares (CG approval series
        160.136), 6 hand held flares (CG approval series 160.121), and
        3 smoke signals (CG approval series 160.122).

        Vessels operation on ocean waters 3 to 50 miles from the Coast-
        line are required to carry 3 parachute flares (CG approval series
        160.036,160.136), 6 hand held flares (CG approval series 160.121,
        160.021), and 3 smoke signals (CG approval series 160.022, or 160.037
        or 160.122).





EPIRB REQUIREMENTS

	This chart flow is used to determine what type and when you are
	required to have a EPIRB.  For additional information contact the
	District Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator.


		   COAST GUARD REQUIREMENTS 
		        REV: 1 OCT 94

			Vessel operates on
			  high seas
		               |
                               |
			VESSEL 36FT OR MORE
		YES------   IN LENGTH  ---------------- NO
		|					|			
	Does vessel have				|
	inherent buoynacy to float--- yes-------------->|
	when flooded.					|
		|					|
		no					|
		|					|
	Does vessel have galley			Was a 121.5/243Mhz EPIRB
	or berthing facilities-- yes		on board on 26 Apr 93?----no
		|		  |			|                  |
		no		  |                    yes                 |
	Is vessel >300tons	  |			|		   |
        and operation beyond 	  |			|		   |
  yes---boundary line?	      Does vessel operate on	|		   |
   |		|	      Great lakes more than 3	|		   |
   |		no<------yes- miles from coast?		|		   |
   |            |		  |			|		   |
   |            |                 no			|		   |
   |		|		  |	      Was a 121.5/243Mhz	   |
   |     Was a 121.5/243Mhz	  |	      EPIRB built on or		   |
   |     EPIRB on board on	  |	      after 1 Oct 88?----no------->|
   |     26 Apr 93?--------no---->|			|		   |
   |            |                 |		       yes		   |
   |           yes                |			|		   |
   |            |                 |			|		   |
   |     Was a 121.5/243Mhz       |			|		   |
   |     EPIRB built on or        |			|		   |
   |     after 1 Oct 88? ----no-->|			|		   |
   |            |                 |			|		   |
   |           yes                |			|		   |
   |            |                 |			|		   |
   V            V                 V                     V                  V
Category 1  Category 1       Category 1           Cat.1 or 2         Cat.1 or 2
SAT EPIRB   SAT.EPIRB by     SAT. EPIRB		  Sat.EPIRB by       Sat.EPIRB
	    1 February 1998                       1 Februay 1998



FIRE EXTINGUISHING EQUIPMENT

	Fire extinguishers must be Coast Guard approved and in the minimum
	amounts specified in the following table.

	Number of B-I Hand Portable Fire Extinguishing Required for Vessels
        Less than 65 Feet in Length.  (One B-II hand portable fire 
	Extinguisher may be substituted for two B-I hand portable fire
	extinguishers).


	Length (feet)		With no fixed fire	With fixed fire
				extinguishing system	extinguishing system
				in machinery space      in machinery space
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Under 16 * 		        1                     	0

	16 and over,but under 26*	1			0

	26 and over,but under 40	2			1

	40 to 65 feet			3			2

	* Outboard boats less than 26 feet are not required to carry
	  fire extinguishers if their construction will not permit the
	  entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors.


CASUALTIES AND INJURIES

	A placard at least 5 inches by 7 inches reading as follows is
	required to be posted in a prominent place.

				Notice

			Report all Injuries

	United Sates law, 46 United Sates Code 10603, requires each seaman
	on a fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or fish tender vessel
	to notify the master or individual in charge of the vessel or other
	agent of the employer regarding any illness, disability, or injury
	suffered by the seaman when in service to the vessel not later than
	seven days after the date on which the illness, disability, or injury
	arose.


RULES OF THE ROAD

	Vessels 12 meters or more in length that operate shoreward of the
	COLREGS demarcation lines are required to carry on board a copy of 
	the Inland Navigation Rules.


POLLUTION PREVENTION

	Vessels 26 feet or more in length are required to post an oil
	pollution placard and a garbage placard.



DRUG-TESTING REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATION OF A VESSEL WHILE INTOXICATED.

	Any persons directly involved in a "serious marine incident" must
	be tested for evidence of both dangerous drugs and alcohol.

	For Vessels with no Coast Guard licensed or documented crew on board,
	these regulations apply only after a "serious marine incident".  An
	individual is considered intoxicated when he is operating a fishing
	vessel and has a alcohol concentration of .04 percent by weight or
	more in their blood or is operating the vessel and the effect of the
	intoxicant(s) consumed by the individual on the person's manner,
	disposition, speech, muscular movement, general appearance or behavior
	is apparent by observation.
 

MARINE SANITATION DEVICES

	All vessels with installed toilet facilities must have an operable,
	Coast Guard certified Marine Sanitation Device (MSD).  These systems
	are so labeled except for some holding tanks, which are certified by
	definition under the regulations, if they store only sewage and 
	flushwater at ambient air pressure and temperature.  If a "y" valve is
	installed with a holding tank, it must be secured to direct the flow
	into the holding tank while operation on U.S. Navigable Waters.


FIRST AID EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING

	Each vessel must have on board a first aid manual and a medicine chest
	of a suitable size in a readily accessible location.  After Sept. 1,
	1993 the following training is required:

	Vessels operation with more than 2 individuals on board must have a 
	least 1 individual certified in first aid and at least 1 individual
	certified in CPR or 1 individual certified in both.

	Vessels operation with more than 16 individuals on board must have a 
	least 2 individuals certified in first aid and at least 2 individuals
	certified in CPR.  Individuals certified in both may be counted against
	both requirements.


NAVIGATION INFORMATION

	The following navigational information is required to be on board
	for the vessel's operation area:

	- Currently corrected charts of appropriate scale for safe navigation.

	- Currently corrected copy (or applicable extract) of the U.S. Coast
	  Pilot, Coast Guard Light List, National Ocean Service Tide Tables,
	  and National Ocean Service Tidal Current Tables.


COMPASS

	Each Vessel must be equipped with an operable magnetic steering
	compass with a compass deviation table at the operation station.

ANCHORS AND RADAR REFLECTORS

	Each vessel must be quipped with appropriate anchor(s) and chain(s),
	cable or rope.

	Each nonmetallic hull vessel must be equipped with a radar reflector
	unless it is a vessel rigged with gear that can provide a radar 
	signature at six miles.


COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

	Each vessel must be equipped with a VHF radiotelephone communication
	equipment operation within the 156-162 MHz band.

	If operation more than 20 miles from the coastline, the vessel must
	also be equipped with a radio telephone communication equipment
	operating within the 2-4 MHz band, but of more than 100 miles from
	the coastline this additional radiotelephone must operate within the
	2-27.5 MHz band.  A single radio transceiver meeting all of these
	requirements or a cellular telephone or satellite communication
	system servicing the area of vessel operation, is also acceptable to
	meet the requirements of this paragraph.

	A radiotelephone transceiver installed on board before Sept. 15, 1991
	operating on 4-20MHz band may continue to be used to satisfy the above
	requirements for vessels operating more than 100 miles from the coast
	line.

	All communications equipment must be able to be operated from the
	Vessels operation station and must comply with FCC requirements
	including a Ship Radio Station License.  An emergency source of power
	-- independent of main electrical power supply and outside of main
	machinery space -- must be provided to power communications equipment
	for at least 3 continuous hours.


HIGH WATER ALARMS

	High water alarms are required for vessels 36 feet or greater in
	length.  Alarms are to be both visual and audible and installed at
	the operating station.  They are to indicate high water levels in
	each of the following normally unmanned spaces: a space with a 
	through hull fitting below the deepest load waterline; a machinery 
	space bilge, bilge well, shaft alley bilge, or other space subject
	to flooding from sea water piping within the space; a space with a
	non watertight enclosure such as a space with a non-water-tight
	hatch on the main deck.


BILGE SYSTEMS

	All vessels must be equipped with a bilge pump capable of draining
	any watertight compartment, other than tanks and small buoyancy
	compartments, under all service conditions.  If a portable bilge
	pump is used to meet this requirement, a suitable suction hose and
	discharge hose must be provided that will reach the bilges of all
	water-tight compartments it must serve and ensure overboard discharge.
	The portable pump must be capable of dewatering each space at a rate
	of a least 2 inches of water depth per minute.

Wow, you didn't type that all in, did you?

Wow, you didn't type that all in, did you?

    
    
    Yes, I did type that all in, but I have been working on it since
    December.  I hope this information was useful to some of the
    fisherman on the notes file.
    
    	George (JOY III)
    
                                                 

I called the CG but never received the info.  As a matter of fact I was going to call them again
when you note appeared.  From the looks at the rules, they are less stringent than I had thought 
for my size boat 25' especially during the months I would be fishing.  Looks like I might give
it a try this coming year.

Thanks again for typing in the info.

Gordon (Rock'n 'n Reel'n)

    
     Question - If you have a permit to fish for Bluefin do you need a
    license in order to sell the fish ? If so, who issues these ? the
    state,
    NMFS ?
    
    Thanks
    Steve

    You're supposed to have a commercial fishing license to sell fish.
    These are issued by the state.

    For the people that have an interest in the Big Ones'...
    The NMFS has published proposed reg for the 1995 Bluefin season in the
    Federal Register. I have a 14 page fax with the info.
    A quick summary:
    General Category	438 mt.		531 mt. last year.
    Sunday and Wed. are no fishing days.
    Monthly quotas as follows.
    June, July 20%
    August     35%
    Sept.      35%
    Oct.       10%
    
    Hearings/dates:
    
    Holiday Inn  		Portland ME	May 23, 6-10 pm
    City Hall Council Chamber   Portsmouth NH	May 24  6-10 pm
    Plymouth High School	Plymouth MA	MAy 25  6-10 pm
    Holiday Inn			Tom's River NJ  May 26  6-10 pm
    
    There are others, contact me for info on your area
    
    
    Steve

I find your report most interesting....The last I heard they were considering
increasing the quota this year because scientists were saying that there was
only one stock of bluefin tuna, not two as previously thought (western and
eastern atlantic stocks).  Also the stocks were not as depleted as previously
thought.  Another reason I heard for increasing stocks was due to the US having
contributed the most significantly to conservation over the past years where as
the Eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean countries have done very little as far as
conservation goes.

Is Portsmouth NH the closest hearing to Boston, MA?

As far as no fishing on Sunday and Wednesday is concerned - what is the rational
behind this?  They are already managing the quota on a monthly basis?  What good
is limiting the week to just 5 days?  It basically limits us weekend warriors to
1 day/wk while limiting the commerical fisherman to 5 days.  BTW over 90% of the
tuna are harvested by less then 10% of the commerical fisherman.  I guess they
are rewording the commercial guys for not be able to fish george's bank...

Oh well...

Baitmaster

    Right now it a numbers game. The general category went over 90 mt last
    fall. It was hope the nmfs would use the underage from the angling
    category to cover the overage. They didn't. So we're down from last
    year. The quota increase from iccat has been put into the reserve
    category at 94 mt.
    As for meetings, I think Plymouth would be closest to Boston. The best
    meeting would be the one in Maine. Those guys are going to be
    completly out of control. They want the whole quota in July when the
    fish are up there.
    
    Steve

    
    
    One of the new rules that is also proposed for the 1995 season is that
    there will be no dual permits allowed.  Vessels will not be permitted
    in both the angling and General categories.  Instead a vessel owner
    must declare his or her intent to fish in one category or the other.
    
    General Category permit holders will be allowed to catch, retain and
    sell one lare medium or one giant bluefin per day, but may not retain
    any smaller size blufin.  The Angling Category permit holders will not
    be allowed to sell bluefin, or any tuna, for that matter.
    
    
    (Under these new rules I will have to either cancel my yearly 4 week
    vacation to the N.J. coast to fish for School bluefin and fish for
    New England Giants only or fish N.J. School Bluefin and not be allowed
    to fish for Giants.)  If I had to choose I will probably go for the
    angling permit, but that $3,000 life raft I just bought to meet the
    new 95 Commerial Vessel requirements becomes a real expensive hood 
    ornament.   
    
    I am going to be attending the Portsmouth on the 24th.  If you go look
    me up, I am going to be the one crying if it sounds like they are going
    to implement the NO Dual Permit Rule.
    
    	George
    	JOY III
    

    I will also be at the meeting tonight. Did anyone attend the meeting in
    Portland?
    GCTA has looked at the problem you described in RE:-1 with the change
    to one permit. We have suggested that south of the Cape, you be allowed
    to fish for both one large bluefin or small fish. The proposed rule was
    to help stop people from fishing after they caught the one large
    bluefin. They way it is now, you can keep fishing and hand off other
    fish or cull the fish you catch. Why land a 300lb fish is you might
    catch a 600lb one. Of course this is against the rules, but they are 
    very few feds on the water.
    
    Steve

    The 1995 Bluefin Tuna Regs are out. Only two months late...
    General Catagory	438 MT
    Breakdown:
    June/July		88mt
    August		175 mt
    September		131 mt
    October		44 mt
    
    The "no-fishing: days are:
    
    July 30, 31
    August 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 16, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 30
    Sept   5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25, 27
    
    As of July 21 98.33mt had been landed.
    An update can be had by calling 301-713-1279 or 508-281-9305 after
    5:00pm.
    
    Steve

    As of 12pm 8/4/95:
    
    	199.16 mt of the total quota has been landed
    	August has 22.56mt out of 175 mt for the month
    

    As of 8/9/95 
    Total was 233.39, Aug. 56.79
    
    Yesterday I landed my first Bluefin of the year. It dressed at 626 lbs. 
    I would guess ~780 lbs. whole. It took around 1.5 hours.
    
    Steve 

    A little late....Tim and I landed one on 7/31. A little guy that
    dressed at 223lbs about 300lbs whole. Took about 25 minutes to whip it. 
    
    Looking for #2.
    
    Bruce

Photo available at the URL in my personal name

    great pics, Tim.

    The feds closed the general catagory last night at midnight. Last
    update said we have 31 tons left. We don't know if the will open
    for the 44 tons set aside for October. They are also closing down
    the Angling catagory as of Sat.
    
    Steve

    re: 141
    
    Hey, Tim, are *sure* that cod was *really* 15 pounds? <g>

    The feds are having the first in a series of workshops to discuss the
    possibility of future fisheries management alternatives that limit
    access to tuna fishing.
    
    	Dec. 13, 1995	1-5pm
    	Hynes Center, 900 Boylston St.
     	Boston MA 02115
    
    Further Info, Call Kevin Foster 508-281-9140 or Sarah McLaughlin
    301-713-2347.
    
    IMO, "Just say NO"
    
    Steve

    I agree. Let them reduce the purse seiner quota instead. Why should so
    few get the lion's share?

    	Do you need to deal with any of this crap if you wanted to get a
    tuna for sport on your own boat, or keep it for your own consumption ? 
    I'm obviously talking about a real small one here.
    
    	Ray

    As of July 28 of this year, you need a permit to land any bluefin tuna.
    Call 508-281-9370 for more info. There seens to be the following
    categories, General, Charter/Headboat, and Angling. There will be no
    more dual permits.
    
    Steve

    re:last
    
    	Any idea what this permit will cost ? Sounds like one step closer
    to a salt water fishing license (i.e. first it's tuna, then stripers,
    then salmon if they ever get enough to make it worth while).
    
    	Ray

    Right now, they are free to $20.00/yr. Who knows in the future. Some of
    the big boys want a tuna permit to cost $XXXX.XX/yr. The don't want
    weekend people catch their fish....
    
    Steve

    The General Catagory Tuna Asso will be having their Annual Meeting on
    Sat. Dec. 16, at the Plymouth MA Sheraton Hotel. It is open to all 
    members and guests, really an open meetimg. Starts at 9:30am. 
    
    This year:
    	Rebecca Lent - NMFS
    	ICCAT Meeting Report
    	1996 Rules, Limited Entry, Q & A's
    
    	Videos
    	NC Giant Bluefin Fisheries, this is the winter fishing that has to
    				    be seen to be believed.
    	Seining in the Mediterranean, this is where all the small fish are
    				      killed.
    
    	General Discussions, 1996 rule making, other....
    
    
    
    Steve
                                                         

    The proposed tuna regs for the 1996 season are out:
    Days off Sun, Mon, Tues, most of the time.
    General quota is 531 mt
    
    No fish days:
    July 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30  		    133mt quota
    Aug  4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 186mt quota
    Sept 3, 8. 9, 10, 15			            159 mt quota
    Oct							     53 mt quota
    							    108 mt reserve
    
    The only meeting in the NE is at:
    
    Thurs May 9, Boston MA
    Hynes Center 6-10 pm
    
    
    Steve
    

    They have added a few more meetings.
    In NE:
     May 6 7-10 pm
     Cape Ann Marina
    75 Essex Ave
    Gloucester MA
    
    May 7  5-8pm
    Atrium Inn
    Cooks Corner
    Brunswick ME
    
    There are others in NC, NJ and NY, I'll post on request.
    
    Steve

    Last week my wife was chatting with a patient while doing an
    ultrasound exam on him, and the topic of fishing came up.  He
    told her the following, and acted like he knew what he was
    talking about.  Does anyone know if this is for real?
    
    - Next year anyone who wants to catch and keep any tuna will
      need a permit.
    
    - Said permits can be obtained this year, and it might be hard
      to get one next year if you don't already have one from this
      year.
    
    - These restrictions apply to all species of tuna, including
      bonito (hence my concern).
    
    Sounds pretty strange to me at least for bonito, which is not
    much of a commercial target.  For that matter, technically
    speaking the bonito isn't even a tuna.  Its teeth and dorsal
    fin place it somewhere between true tuna and the rest of the
    mackerel family.
    
    Thanks,
    Tom

    Dennis, Pat and I got one on Friday (8/1).  It was long and lean but a
    great fight.  Stats 95" and dressed at #322.  Took 3 1/2 hrs to tow in.
    
    Joe

    Spent 1 1/2 hours fishing Salisbury Sunday before having to meet other
    commitments...anyhow, I stopped at the baitshop on the left (name?)
    up the road from Tim's as I headed to the Reservation. The "mom" was
    minding the business while "dad and the sons" were out for the
    re-opened tuna season. She said that there were already 2 at the
    landing when she dropped the men off early that morning. The prior
    season she had recorded by photo...the boys were standing by a 637#
    (blue ?) tuna they'd landed. While it was a great catch she said it
    only returned $12/#. Not bad but not enough to pay the bills!
    Tried the jetty between 11AM-12:30PM using sea clams. had great pick
    ups each time but now believe my hooks were too small as I kept getting
    robbed! Knowing I didn't have much time I only brought minimal gear to
    avoid becoming deliquent and irresponsible 8^)  Had plan on using metal
    so I wouldn't smell too fishy for my Aunt's 80th BD Party. Decided on
    the spur to get a small package of clams which seem to be preferred and
    I had no luck with the needlefish w/ teaser and bucktails (white and
    yellow.) By the time I left the ocean was crashing over the full length
    of the jetty as Edouard came on - I was glad I had brought extra clothes!
    Maybe this weekend. I'll get to do it right!
                                    

    Found a major school yesterday of mediums. Everybody was hooking up. We
    hooked up thrice in a little over two hours, and could have easily
    taken a half dozen fish if we'd stuck around- they were committing
    suicide. We kept the bigger of the two that we boated. It dressed out
    at 242 lbs, was 76 inches long, and got good grades. ;-) It provided 40
    minutes of tug of war before joining us on the deck.
    
     Anybody do anything up north?

Well we caught our annual tuna fish on 9/1 - dressed at 442 lbs...Fished out of
the Merrimack and fished every day last week except Monday and Tuesday due to
the Hurricane and scheduled closure.  A lot of fish were caught around us last
week but unfortunately only the 1 fish in the boat...

Any word yet on the quota?  I suspect it done until October.  I only hope we get
one more shot at them next month...

Dave (AKA Baitmaster)

    just called nmfs in d.c.  supposedly gen cat exceeded the quota by 1mt
    (166mt) so we won't re-open in sept.  but it looks like we'll get a
    shot in oct.  i think i spoke to chris rogers, hope he's accurate.

    I got thru on the 508 number at 2:00am. It was busy all night. We're
    all done for this month. They say it will open for Oct.
    
    Steve

    I just got a fax saying the school bluefin will open from Fri Sept 13
    to Sunday Sept 15, two days in the nothern area.
    Also the reserve which is around 108 mt will be included with the 50
    mt? for October in the general catagory. I wish I had a slip in Cape Cod 
    Bay....
    
    
    Steve

[Federal Register: March 4, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 42)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 9726-9732]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr97-21]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 630

[Docket No. 960416112-7024-04; I.D. 111396A]
RIN 0648-AJ04


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Tuna Fishery
Regulatory Adjustments

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to amend regulations governing the Atlantic tuna
fisheries to: Divide the large school-small medium size class quota and
the large medium-giant quotas of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABT) into north
and south regional subquotas; establish a new tuna permit program to
provide for category changes, annual renewals and the collection of
fees; establish authority for self-reporting for ABT landed under the
Angling category; prohibit the retention of ABT less than the large
medium size class by vessels permitted in the General category;
prohibit all fishing by persons aboard vessels permitted in the General
category on designated restricted-fishing days; and prohibit the use of
spotter aircraft except in purse seine fisheries. The proposed
regulatory amendments are necessary to achieve domestic management
objectives for the Atlantic tuna fisheries. NMFS will hold public
hearings to receive comments from fishery participants and other
members of the public regarding these proposed amendments.

DATES: Comments are invited and must be received on or before March 31,
1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed rule should be sent to, William
Hogarth, Acting Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division,
Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kelly, 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic tuna fisheries are managed
under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). ATCA
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to implement
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the recommendations of the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic tunas
(ICCAT). The authority to implement ICCAT recommendations has been
delegated from the Secretary to the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA (AA).

Relation to Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemaking

    This proposed rule responds in part to comments received subsequent
to two recently published Advanced Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
(ANPR) (61 FR 43518, August 23, 1996 and 61 FR 48876, September 17,
1996). Written comments were accepted over a 30 day period following
publication of each ANPR. A summary of comments received follows.
    NMFS received comments from several organizations and individuals
in support of dividing the large school-small medium and large medium-
giant size class quotas into regional subquotas. Many commenters are
concerned that the high catch rates off North Carolina in the winter
months preclude the opportunity to land a trophy size bluefin in other
areas. Some commenters felt that this would be a more reasonable
solution than delaying the Angling category season until June 1. Still
others suggested that since the winter fishery off North Carolina is
not historical, at least at current levels, it should not be allowed to
increase if it is likely to jeopardize the ABT recovery program or
preclude fisheries in traditional areas.
    Some commenters wrote in support of providing NMFS the authority to
close and/or reopen all or part of the Angling category in order to
ensure an equitable distribution of fishing opportunities. NMFS has
decided to address this option in a separate regulatory action.
    Regarding a new tuna permit program, some commenters support annual
renewal and the collection of a fee. Some individuals state that an
annual renewal system would be an administrative burden. A few
commenters suggest a higher fee for commercial and charter permits, and
a few oppose the fee altogether. Several commenters support the
establishment of a self-reporting system for ABT landed under the
Angling category. Some are concerned about NMFS getting the resources
to develop a monitoring strategy in which the constituency can have
confidence.
    Many commenters wrote to support issuance of one permit per vessel
so that vessels could not fish in more than one quota category. In July
1995, NMFS issued regulations that precluded issuance of both a General
and Angling category permit to a single vessel, but that rule also
allowed General and Charter/Headboat permitted vessels to fish under
the Angling category quota. The numerous comments NMFS received in
support of separating the General and Angling category permits can thus
be translated as requests to prohibit the retention of school ABT by
General category vessels.
    Some commenters wrote to support the requirement of logbooks for
General category vessels.
    Over 350 post cards were received that requested NMFS to prohibit
fishing by persons on General category vessels on restricted-fishing
days. A few commenters oppose restricted-fishing days. NMFS received
510 comments supporting prohibition of spotter planes in all handgear
categories, two comments supporting the prohibition for the General
category only, and one comment supporting the prohibition for the
Harpoon category only.
    NMFS has reviewed comments received on the two ANPRs and has
considered them in developing this proposed rule.

Relation to Proposed Consolidation

    A proposed rule on ``Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries;
Consolidation of Regulations'' was published by NMFS on November 6,
1996, in the Federal Register at 61 FR 57361. The regulatory amendments
contained in this proposed rule have been written to be consistent with
the previously proposed consolidation. As proposed, the consolidated
regulations significantly reorganize and condense regulatory text
regarding the Atlantic tuna fisheries. In particular, regulations
governing the Atlantic tuna fisheries,

[[Page 9727]]

currently found at 50 CFR part 285, were proposed to be combined with
other regulations governing HMS under 50 CFR part 630. This proposed
rule is drafted in a consistent format to enable the public to place
these changes in context, as the changes will amend the proposed
consolidated regulations under part 630. Copies of the proposed
consolidation rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) or
calling the contact person (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Subsequent to the publication of the proposed consolidation, a
technical amendment to 50 CFR part 285 was filed at the Office of the
Federal Register (62 FR 331, January 3, 1997) to remove references to
the Regional Director for the purposes of issuing Atlantic Tunas
permits. This amendment was necessary to begin implementation of the
automated permitting system by a private sector contractor. Therefore,
regulatory text referring to permits in this proposed rule reflects
changes made by that technical amendment in addition to the proposed
consolidation.

Angling Category

    Changes to Angling category regulations would provide more
information for scientific monitoring by lengthening the fishing
season. Additionally, these changes would provide more equitable
geographic and temporal distribution of fishing opportunities.
    Since 1992, the school size subcategory has been divided between a
``north'' and ``south'' area quota, with the division at Delaware Bay.
The northern region has been allocated 53 percent of the school ABT
quota and the southern region 47 percent. Given the recent and
unprecedented increase in landings of large school-small medium and
large medium-giant (trophy class) ABT in the early season North
Carolina fishery, NMFS proposes to subdivide the large school-small
medium quota and the large medium-giant quota in the same proportions
and for the same geographic areas as has been specified for the school
size class of ABT. This subdivision would improve scientific data
collection over all regions and the entire fishing season and help
ensure that the northern and southern areas have access to an equitable
share of the quota. If implemented, these northern and southern area
subquotas will be identified in the annual quota specifications to be
published in the Federal Register at a later date.
    NMFS believes that the subdivision of the quota combined with the
expanded authority for interim closures, to be undertaken in a separate
action, could adequately address the scientific monitoring and fishing
opportunity issues without delaying the opening of the Angling category
fishing season until June.

General Category

    In 1995, NMFS proposed amendments to permit regulations to preclude
issuance of both ABT General and Angling category permits to a single
vessel (60 FR 25665, May 12, 1995). At the time, industry participants
had communicated concerns to NMFS that permitting vessels in both the
Angling and General categories facilitates violations of daily catch
limits and results in discarding and additional mortality of bluefin
tuna. These commenters maintained that under a dual permit system,
vessels may continue to fish after the daily commercial trip limit is
reached with the intent to capture a more valuable fish or illegally
transfer fish to another vessel. It was argued that issuance of only a
General or Angling category permit to a single vessel would also reduce
bluefin discard mortality by separating commercial and recreational
fishing activities.
    In response, NMFS proposed that a permit for a single category be
issued to a vessel, that persons aboard General category vessels be
required to release all ABT less than 73 inches curved fork length and
cease fishing once the daily limit of large medium or giant ABT is
attained, and that persons aboard Angling category vessels be required
to release all ABT greater than 73 inches curved fork length and cease
fishing once the daily limit of school, large school, or small medium
ABT is attained, except that vessels registered in the NMFS cooperative
tagging program would be authorized to continue catch and release
fishing.
    At the 1995 public hearings, many General category permittees
expressed interest in maintaining a ``mixed'' fishery, that is,
alternately targeting large or small ABT depending on weather
conditions and availability of fish. Based on comments received, NMFS
issued final regulations (60 FR 38505, July 27, 1995) that limited
permits to one category per vessel, but that also allowed General and
Charter/Headboat permitted vessels to fish under the Angling category
quota for ABT less than 73 inches.
    Since that time, fishery participants have continued to express
concerns in letters, phone calls and at public meetings about
enforcement of General category rules, particularly restricted fishing
days and daily catch limits, in situations where General category
vessel operators could legally continue to fish under the Angling
category rules. In addition, concerns have been raised about NMFS'
ability to monitor the Angling category quota when General category
vessels are included in the sample frame for the telephone and dockside
surveys. The fact that the General and Angling quota categories do not
correspond exactly with the General, Charter/Headboat and Angling
permit categories has led to much confusion on the part of the
regulated public. Often the General category is perceived as a
commercial fishery for giant ABT when in fact there is considerable
overlap with the recreational fishery for school ABT. Of the more than
13,000 General category permittees, only about 1,000 normally land and
sell commercial-size ABT in a given year.
    To address these concerns about quota monitoring and effective
effort controls, NMFS again proposes to prohibit the retention of ABT
less than the large medium size class by vessels permitted in the
General category. This would effectively separate the commercial and
recreational fisheries, with the exception of charter/headboats.
Anglers aboard vessels permitted in the Charter/Headboat category could
fish under either the daily Angling category limits or the daily
General category limit as applicable on that day. The size category of
the first ABT retained or possessed would determine the fishing
category of the vessel for that day.
    Additionally, NMFS proposes to prohibit all fishing by persons
aboard vessels permitted in the General category on designated ABT
restricted-fishing days. This measure is necessary to monitor and
enforce the General category effort controls but is only practical if
the recreational and commercial categories are separate. Fee-paying
anglers aboard vessels permitted in the Charter/Headboat category could
fish under the Angling category rules on designated restricted-fishing
days.
    The proposed requirements for General category vessels would
improve distribution of fishing opportunities, decrease ABT mortality,
facilitate enforcement and increase the effectiveness of the General
category restricted fishing days, and improve the accuracy of catch
estimates for both the Angling and General categories.

Permits and Catch Reporting

    Revisions proposed for the Atlantic tunas permit and reporting
program would provide for annual renewals and the collection of fees,
and the authorization for a mandatory reporting

[[Page 9728]]

system for ABT landed under the Angling category.
    In recent years, NMFS has received substantial criticism that the
existing telephone and dockside surveys do not result in timely or
accurate catch estimates. Revisions to the permitting and reporting
systems will improve NMFS' ability to monitor the Angling category
catch and effect a fair distribution of fishing opportunities. While
collection of fees and annual renewals are authorized under current
regulations, Atlantic tuna permits are currently provided free of
charge, and have been issued for renewals on a three-year, staggered
basis. Because of the extremely high volume of permit requests, NMFS
previously found it cost-inefficient to collect fees and to implement
an annual renewal system.
    Recent changes to automate the permit program, now managed by
private sector contractor, will expedite permit renewals and the
processing of initial applications. Under the new system, reissued tuna
permits would be required for all permit holders, regardless of the
date of expiration indicated on current permits and a fee would be
assessed to recover administrative costs of permit issuance.
    Atlantic tunas permits issued by NMFS Northeast Regional Office,
regardless of expiration date printed on the permit would have to be
renewed under the new system in 1997. In addition, all new permit
applications and requests for category changes would be made under the
new system. NMFS has provided advance notice to vessel owners of
proposed procedures to access the new permitting system via letters to
individual permit holders and in notices broadcast over the Highly
Migratory Species FAX network. Additionally, recorded information and
instructions on the proposed new system can be obtained by phone (toll-
free, 1-888-USA-TUNA) or over the internet (http://www.usatuna.com).
    Permit fees are established according to the NOAA schedule for
recovery of administrative costs. Such fees, previously authorized but
waived by the NMFS Northeast Regional Office for administrative
reasons, are now necessary to recover the cost of the permit program
contract. The fee for calendar year 1997 would be set at $18.00.
    The automated procedures, which include application by telephone or
internet, will reduce the administrative burden on NMFS and the public,
thus annual renewals are feasible. Annual renewals are necessary to
maintain an accurate permit database for the purposes of quota
monitoring and statistical collection.
    Systems implemented for the permit program will also accommodate
automated catch reporting. Automated procedures for direct telephone
catch reporting by anglers would be less burdensome yet more timely and
potentially more precise than current survey-based reporting.
Additional reporting procedures may involve catch reports by tagging
fish or using punch cards. NMFS intends to establish a pilot reporting
system in 1997. If selected for this pilot program, anglers would be
notified by mail of applicable reporting procedures. Depending on the
feasibility and cost assessment of the direct reporting pilot study,
the requirements would be expanded, as appropriate, in 1998. Such
improvements in quota monitoring are necessary to meet ICCAT
obligations and domestic management objectives.
    Finally, Atlantic tunas permitting requirements would be extended
to require permits when fishing under the provisions for tag and
release. In recent years, situations have arisen where significant
levels of fishing activity occur during closures of the ABT fishery.
Current regulations require that tagging kits be on board the vessel
and that tags be used to qualify anglers for the catch and release
exemption to ABT fishery closures. Requiring vessel permits in addition
to tagging kits recognizes that these situations are in fact directed
fisheries for ABT and will facilitate enforcement of ABT regulations
and collection of catch and effort information.
    These proposed permitting and reporting requirements would improve
the quality and quantity of catch information collected for stock
assessments as well as the accuracy of catch estimates for both the
Angling and General categories.

Spotter Aircraft

    This proposed rule would prohibit the use of aircraft to assist
fishing vessel operators in the location and capture of ABT, with the
exception of purse seine vessels. NMFS has received numerous comments
that the use of aircraft to locate bluefin tuna is contrary to the
effort controls previously established for the General category and is
accelerating the closure of the Harpoon category. NMFS has, on two
occasions, requested specific comments on ways to mitigate the impact
of aircraft use on catch rates (54 FR 29916, July 17, 1989 and 61 FR
18366, April 25, 1996).
    In both cases, NMFS elected not to regulate aircraft use in the
Atlantic tuna fisheries, in part because of concerns about the
enforceability of spotter plane regulations. Additionally, in 1996, a
voluntary agreement was signed by the majority of active tuna spotters
that would limit activity to vessels using harpoon gear. NMFS
recognized that the voluntary agreement warranted a trial period, but
also indicated that the agency would continue to monitor the situation
and would take appropriate action if necessary. Since the fishery
management concerns continue to be expressed, and due to increased
numbers of aircraft and vessels, safety issues are now being raised,
NMFS has reconsidered action to respond to these issues.
    NMFS considered combining the Harpoon and General categories as a
means to resolve the catch rate and safety issues. The incentive for
aircraft use would be greatly diminished if all handgear fishermen were
subject to a daily catch limit. However, it is debatable whether the
harpoon fishery, as it has traditionally existed, could continue under
catch limits. Also, aircraft are currently used in the General
category, so it is not clear how aircraft use would adapt to a single
handgear category. On the other hand, fishery participants have
expressed a commitment to self-policing, increasing the likelihood that
a spotter aircraft regulation could be effectively enforced.
Recognizing that self-policing is essential for effective enforcement,
NMFS proposes to prohibit use of aircraft for ABT fishing except for
assisting purse seine vessels. NMFS requests comment on this proposal
and alternative measures to address the fishery management and safety
issues raised by use of aircraft in the ABT fisheries.

Public Hearings

    NMFS will hold public hearings to receive comments on these
proposed amendments. These hearings will be scheduled at a later date
and before the end of the comment period. Advanced notice of these
hearings will be published in the Federal Register and via the HMS fax
network, internet worldwide web site (http://www.usatuna.com), and
telephone information hotline (301-713-1279).

Classification

    This proposed rule is published under the authority of the ATCA, 16
U.S.C. 971 et seq. Preliminarily, the AA has determined that the
regulations contained in this proposed rule are necessary to implement
the recommendations of ICCAT and are necessary for management of the
Atlantic tuna fisheries.

[[Page 9729]]

    NMFS prepared a draft EA for this proposed rule with a preliminary
finding of no significant impact on the human environment. In addition,
a draft RIR was prepared with a preliminary finding of no significant
impact.
    The Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation of the
Department of Commerce certified to the Chief of Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, will not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities as follows:

    The proposed regulatory amendments are necessary to achieve
domestic management objectives. Small businesses should benefit from
measures to extend the fishing season and distribute fishing
opportunities. Permit fees will be $18.00 per year and anglers will
not incur any significant costs to comply with reporting
requirements. Restricted- fishing days should augment total revenues
to the General category due to increased prices from more even
product flow on the export market. Approximately 30 pilots would be
affected by the spotter plane prohibition. Some pilots would
continue to fly for purse seine vessels. Otherwise, since pilots
operate on a catch share basis lost revenue would accrue to fishing
vessel operators. While over 10,000 recreational vessel owners could
be restricted from selling a bluefin tuna, such sales are an
infrequent occurrence. Therefore, it is concluded that these
proposed actions, considered separately or in aggregate, will not
have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Thus, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for these
actions.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required
to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
    This proposed rule would implement new collections and restates or
revises existing collection-of-information requirements subject to the
PRA. Atlantic tuna vessel permits required under Sec. 630.4(a) are
approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0202 and are estimated at 30
minutes per permit action. Vessel reporting and recordkeeping
requirements for longline vessels under Sec. 630.5 are currently
approved for swordfish and shark vessels under OMB Control Number 0648-
0016 and are estimated at 15 minutes per logbook entry and 16 minutes
for the attachment of tally sheets. Vessel reporting requirements for
Atlantic tuna vessels permitted in the Angling category as proposed to
be authorized under Sec. 630.5 are currently approved as a voluntary
collection under OMB Control Number 0648-0052 and are estimated at 8
minutes per telephone interview and 5 minutes per dockside interview.
    Although permitting and reporting requirements have been approved
by OMB for these fisheries, this rule would modify or extend these
information collections. First, the new permit system would require
reissuance of all vessel permits. NMFS estimates that up to 20,000
permit holders may be affected at an estimated 6 minutes per phone
call. Second, commercial tuna vessel operators, who do not otherwise
submit logbooks under swordfish or shark fishery requirements could be
selected for the pelagic logbook reporting program. Purse seine,
harpoon or handgear vessels could be affected. NMFS would request OMB
approval prior to selecting vessels from these categories. Finally, ABT
catch reporting by recreational anglers would be conducted by direct
phone call rather than by interview. Catch reports are estimated at 5
minutes per toll-free phone call. While automated catch reporting may
reduce the burden to individual respondents, the direct reporting
program, if fully implemented, would increase the number of
respondents. NMFS has requested that OMB review these proposed
modifications to information collections. If implemented, the
effectiveness of these collections will be delayed, pending OMB
approval.
    Public comment is sought regarding: whether this proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the agency, including whether the information has
practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information,
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    NMFS issued a biological opinion under the Endangered Species Act
on July 5, 1989, indicating that the level of impact and marine mammal
takes in the Atlantic tuna fisheries is not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of any sea turtle species or any marine mammal
populations. NMFS has since reinitiated consultation on the Atlantic
highly migratory species fisheries under section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act. This consultation will consider new information concerning
the status of the northern right whale. NMFS has determined that
proceeding with this rule, pending completion of that consultation,
will not result in any irreversible and irretrievable commitment of
resources that would have the effect of foreclosing the formulation or
implementation of any reasonable and prudent alternative measures.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 630

    Fisheries, Fishing, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Treaties.

    Dated: February 19, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 630 as
proposed to be amended at 61 FR 57361, November 6, 1996, is further
proposed to be amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 630 continues to read as
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    2. In Sec. 630.2, definitions for ``aircraft'' and ``restricted-
fishing day'' are added to read as follows:

Sec. 630.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
     Aircraft means any contrivance used for flight in air.
* * * * *
    Restricted-fishing day means a date, after the commencement date of
the General category fishing season and before the effective date of
fishery closure on attaining the annual quota, designated by the
Director under Sec. 630.29(a)(1)(i) upon which no fishing may be
conducted by persons aboard vessels permitted in the Atlantic tunas
General category.
* * * * *
    3. In Sec. 630.4, paragraph (a)(2)(v), the introductory text of
paragraph (c) and paragraphs (c)(1)(i), (c)(1)(iii), (c)(1)(v), and
paragraphs (d), (e), (f), (i) and (k) are revised to read as follows:

Sec. 630.4  Permits and fees.

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (v) Change of category. Except for purse seine vessels for which a
permit has been issued under paragraph (a)(2)(iv) of this section, an
owner may change the category of the vessel's Atlantic tunas permit to
another category a maximum of once per calendar year by application on
the appropriate form to NMFS before May 15. After May 15, the vessel's
permit category may not be changed to another

[[Page 9730]]

category for the remainder of the calendar year, regardless of any
change in the vessel's ownership.
* * * * *
    (c) Application. A vessel owner or dealer applying for a permit
under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section must submit a completed
permit application as indicated in the application instructions at
least 30 days before the date on which the applicant desires to have
the permit made effective.
    (1) Vessel permits. (i) Applicants must provide all information
concerning vessel, gear used, fishing areas, and fisheries
participation, including sworn statements relative to income
requirements and permit conditions, as indicated in the instructions on
the application form.
* * * * *
    (iii) NMFS may require the applicant to provide documentation
supporting any sworn statements required under this section before a
permit is issued or to substantiate why such permit should not be
revoked or otherwise sanctioned under paragraph (l) of this section.
Such required documentation may include copies of appropriate forms and
schedules from the applicant's income tax return. Copies of income tax
forms and schedules are treated as confidential.
* * * * *
    (v) Applicants must also submit any other information that may be
necessary for the issuance or administration of the permit, as
requested by NMFS.
* * * * *
    (d) Issuance. (1) Except as provided in subpart D of 15 CFR part
904, a permit shall be issued within 30 days of receipt of a completed
application. An application is complete when all requested forms,
information, sworn statements and supporting documentation have been
received and the applicant has submitted all reports required under
this part.
    (2) The applicant will be notified of any deficiency in the
application. If the applicant fails to correct the deficiency within 15
days following the date of notification, the application will be
considered abandoned.
    (e) Duration. A permit issued under paragraph (a) or (b) of this
section remains valid until it expires or is suspended, revoked, or
modified pursuant to subpart D of 15 CFR part 904. Permits expire on
the date indicated on the permit or when any of the information
previously submitted on the application changes. Permits must be
renewed upon expiration. Renewal of permits must be initiated at least
30 days before the expiration date to avoid a lapse in validity.
    (f) Fees. NMFS may charge a fee to recover the administrative
expenses of permit issuance. The amount of the fee shall be determined,
at least biannually, in accordance with the procedures of the NOAA
Finance Handbook, available from the Director, for determining
administrative costs of each special product or service. The fee may
not exceed such costs and is specified with application or renewal
instructions. The required fee must accompany each application or
renewal. Failure to pay the fee will preclude issuance of the permit.
Payment by a commercial instrument later determined to be
insufficiently funded shall invalidate any permit.
* * * * *
    (i) Change in application information. Within 15 days after any
change in the information contained in an application submitted under
paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, the vessel owner or dealer must
report the change by phone (1-888-USA-TUNA) or internet (http://
www.usatuna.com). In such case, a new permit will be issued to
incorporate the new information. For certain informational changes,
NMFS may require supporting documentation before a new permit will be
issued or may require payment of an additional fee. Permittees will be
notified of such requirements, if applicable, when reporting changes.
The permit is void if any change in the information is not reported
within 15 days.
* * * * *
    (k) Replacement. Replacement permits will be issued when requested
by the owner or authorized representative. A request for a replacement
permit will not be considered a new application. An appropriate fee,
consistent with paragraph (f) of this section, may be charged for
issuance of the replacement permit.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec. 630.5, the first sentence in each of paragraphs (a)(1)
and (2) are revised, and a new paragraph (a)(4) is added to read as
follows:

Sec. 630.5  Recordkeeping and reporting.

    (a) Vessels--(1) Logbooks. If selected and so notified in writing
by NMFS, the owner and/or operator of a vessel for which a permit has
been issued under Sec. 630.4(a), must ensure that a daily logbook form
is maintained of the vessel's fishing effort, catch, and disposition on
forms available from the Science and Research Director. * * *
    (2) Tally sheets. The owner and/or operator of a vessel for which a
permit has been issued under Sec. 630.4(a), and who is required to
submit a logbook under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, must ensure
that copies of tally sheets are submitted for all fish offloaded and
sold after a fishing trip. * * *
* * * * *
    (4) Angling reports. Angling category permittees selected by the
Director are required to report all ABT landed under the Angling
category quota. Permittees will be notified in writing by the Director
of their selection and applicable reporting requirements and
procedures. Reporting procedures shall be established by the Director
in cooperation with the States, and may include telephone, dockside or
mail surveys, mail-in or phone-in reports, tagging programs, or
mandatory ABT check-in stations. A statistically based sample of the
Angling category permittees may be selected for specific reporting
programs.
* * * * *
    5. In Sec. 630.21, paragraph (f) is added to read as follows:

Sec. 630.21  Gear restrictions.

* * * * *
    (f) Aircraft. Other than for a vessel holding a valid permit in the
Purse Seine category under Sec. 630.4(a)(2), locating, fishing for,
catching, taking, retaining or possessing ABT by means, aid, or use of
any aircraft is prohibited.
    6. In Sec. 630.28, paragraphs (b)(5) and (e)(1) are revised to read
as follows:

Sec. 630.28  Quotas and closures.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (5) Inseason adjustments. NMFS may make transfers between fishing
categories or allocate any portion of the Reserve held for inseason
adjustments to any category of the fishery, or to account for harvest
by persons conducting research activities authorized under
Sec. 630.1(b)(2) in accordance with Sec. 630.32. NMFS will publish
notification of any inseason adjustment amount in the Federal Register.
Before making any such allocation between categories or from the
Reserve, NMFS will consider the following factors:
    (i) The usefulness of information obtained from catches of the
particular category of the fishery for biological sampling and
monitoring the status of the stock.
    (ii) The catches of the particular gear segment to date and the
likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no allocation
is made.

[[Page 9731]]

    (iii) The projected ability of the particular gear segment to
harvest the additional amount of Atlantic bluefin tuna before the
anticipated end of the fishing season.
    (iv) The estimated amounts by which quotas established for other
gear segments of the fishery might be exceeded.
* * * * *
    (e) Closures--(1) Atlantic bluefin tuna. (i) NMFS will monitor
catch and landing statistics, including catch and landing statistics
from previous years and projections based on those statistics, of
Atlantic bluefin tuna by vessels other than those permitted in the
Purse Seine category. On the basis of these statistics, NMFS will
project a date when the catch of Atlantic bluefin tuna will equal any
quota established under this section, and will file notification with
the Office of the Federal Register stating that fishing for or
retaining Atlantic bluefin tuna under the quota must cease on that date
at a specified hour.
    (ii) Upon determining that variations in seasonal distribution,
abundance, or migration patterns of ABT, and the catch rate in one area
may preclude anglers in an another area from a reasonable opportunity
to harvest its historical share of the quota, NMFS may close all or
part of the Angling category or reopen it at a later date, to ensure
that ABT have migrated to the identified area before the entire Angling
category quota is reached. In determining the need for any such
temporary or area closure, NMFS will consider the applicable factors
referenced under Sec. 630.28(b)(5).
* * * * *
    7. In Sec. 630.29, paragraph (a)(1)(iv) is removed and paragraphs
(a)(1)(i) and (a)(5) are revised to read as follows:

Sec. 630.29  Catch limits.

    (a) Atlantic bluefin tuna--(1) General category. (i) From the start
of each fishing year, except on designated restricted- fishing days,
only one large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna may be caught and
landed per day from a vessel for which a General category permit has
been issued under Sec. 630.4(a)(2). On designated restricted-fishing
days, persons aboard such vessels may not fish. NMFS will publish in
the Federal Register a schedule of designated restricted-fishing days
applicable for that fishing season.
* * * * *
    (5) Charter/Headboat category. (i) Persons aboard vessels for which
a Charter/Headboat category permit has been issued under
Sec. 630.4(a)(2) are subject to the daily catch limit in effect on that
day for school, large school, and small medium ABT applicable to the
Angling category or the daily catch limit in effect on that day for
large medium and giant ABT applicable to the General category. The size
category of the first ABT retained or possessed shall determine the
fishing category applicable to the vessel that day. Persons aboard the
vessel may possess ABT in an amount not to exceed a single day's catch,
regardless of the length of the trip, as allowed by the daily catch
limit in effect on that day for the Angling or General category, as
applicable. School, large school, and small medium ABT landed by
persons aboard Charter/Headboat category vessels are counted against
the Angling category quota. Large medium and giant ABT landed by
persons aboard Charter/Headboat category vessels are counted against
the General category quota if landed under paragraph (a)(5)(ii) of this
section, or the Angling category quota, if landed under paragraph
(a)(5)(iii) or (iv) of this section.
    (ii) When commercial fishing by vessels for which General category
permits have been issued under Sec. 630.4(a)(2) is authorized, except
when fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, operators of vessels for which a
Charter/Headboat category permit has been issued under Sec. 630.4(a)(2)
are subject to the daily catch limit in effect for the General category
for large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna as specified in
paragraph (a)(1) of this section. Once the applicable catch limit for
large medium or giant bluefin tuna is possessed or retained on
authorized commercial fishing days, persons aboard vessels for which
Charter/Headboat category permits have been issued under
Sec. 630.4(a)(2) must cease fishing and the vessel must proceed to
port. Large medium or giant ABT landed under this paragraph may be
sold.
    (iii) When the General category fishery is closed, except when
fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, operators of vessels for which a
Charter/Headboat category permit has been issued under Sec. 630.4(a)(2)
are subject to the annual vessel limit and reporting requirement for
non-commercial take of large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna as
specified in paragraph (a)(4)(ii) of this section. Once the applicable
catch limit for large medium or giant bluefin tuna is possessed or
retained under the Angling category quota, fishing by persons aboard
Charter/Headboat category vessels must cease and the vessel must
proceed to port.
    (iv) At any time when fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, operators of
vessels for which Charter/Headboat category permits have been issued
under Sec. 630.4(a)(2) may not fish for, catch, retain or possess
bluefin tuna except that large medium and giant bluefin tuna taken
incidental to fishing for other species may be retained subject to the
annual vessel limit and reporting requirement for non-commercial take
of large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna as specified in
paragraph (a)(4)(ii) of this section. Once the applicable catch limit
for large medium or giant bluefin tuna is possessed or retained under
the Angling category quota, fishing by persons aboard Charter/Headboat
category vessels must cease and the vessel must proceed to port.
    8. In Sec. 630.30, paragraph (a)(1) is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 630.30  Catch and release.

    (a) Atlantic bluefin tuna. (1) Notwithstanding other provisions of
this part, a person aboard a vessel permitted under Sec. 630.4(a)(2),
other than a person aboard a vessel permitted in the General category
on a designated restricted-fishing day, may fish for Atlantic bluefin
tuna under a tag and release program, provided the person tags all
Atlantic bluefin tuna so caught with tags issued or approved by NMFS
under this section, and releases and returns such fish to the sea
immediately after tagging and with a minimum of injury. If NMFS-issued
or NMFS-approved tags are not on board a vessel, all persons aboard
that vessel are deemed to be ineligible to fish under the provisions of
this section.
* * * * *
    9. In Sec. 630.70, paragraphs (a)(8) and (a)(78) are revised and
paragraphs (a)(101) and (a)(102) are added to read as follows:

Sec. 630.70  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (8) Fish for, catch, possess, or retain any Atlantic bluefin tuna
less than the large medium size class from a vessel other than one
issued a permit for the Angling or Charter/Headboat categories under
Sec. 630.4(a)(2)(i), or a permit for the Purse Seine category under
Sec. 630.4(a)(2)(i) as authorized under Sec. 630.26(a)(2).
* * * * *
    (78) Fish for, catch, or possess or retain Atlantic bluefin tuna in
excess of the catch limits specified in Sec. 630.29(a), except that
fish may be caught and released under the provisions of Sec. 630.30.
* * * * *
    (101) For persons aboard vessels permitted in the General category
under

[[Page 9732]]

Sec. 630.4(a)(2), engage in fishing for any species on designated
restricted-fishing days.
    (102) Fish for, catch, possess or retain, or attempt to fish for,
catch, possess or retain any ABT by means, aid, or use of any aircraft,
unless holding a valid permit in the Purse Seine category under
Sec. 630.4(a).
[FR Doc. 97-4587 Filed 2-27-97; 4:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F