Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Quotas and Closure of Directed Fishery

Resumo

By final rule, NMFS amends the regulations governing the Atlantic swordfish fishery by: 1) Reducing the total allowable catch (TAC) to 2,984 metric tons (mt); 2) increasing the swordfish bycatch limit to 15 fish for longline vessels when the directed longline swordfish fishery is closed; 3) providing authority for NMFS to modify the bycatch limit; 4) increasing the minimum notice of a closure to 14 days; and 5) reducing the minimum days allowed for the public comment on proposed quota adjustments to 30 days. By interim rule, NMFS amends the regulations to establish a 1996 trip limit of 31,600 pounds (lb) (14,334 kg) dressed weight of swordfish. The intent of this action is to protect the swordfish resource while allowing harvests of swordfish consistent with the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and to provide authority to NMFS to make adjustments to the trip limits. NMFS also announces a closure of the directed swordfish fishery for longliners.