The Law Library presents the complete text of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species - Individual Bluefin Quota Program - Accountability for Bluefin Tuna Catch (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regulation) (NOAA) (2018 Edition).

Updated as of May 29, 2018

NMFS modifies the Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) regulations to require vessels in the pelagic longline fishery to account for bycatch of bluefin tuna (bluefin) using Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) on a quarterly basis instead of on a trip-level basis. Previously, vessel owners had to account for quota debt or IBQ balances less than the minimum required before commencing any fishing trip with pelagic longline gear. With this rulemaking, vessels may fish during a given calendar quarter if they have an IBQ balance below the minimum amount required to depart on a fishing trip or with quota debt incurred by exceeding their IBQ balance; however, vessels are required to reconcile quota debt and satisfy the minimum IBQ requirement prior to departing on their first pelagic longline fishing trip in each calendar quarter. The action optimizes fishing opportunity in the directed pelagic longline fishery for target species such as tuna and swordfish and improves the functionality of the IBQ Program and its accounting provisions, consistent with the objectives of Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

This ebook contains:

- The complete text of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species - Individual Bluefin Quota Program - Accountability for Bluefin Tuna Catch (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regulation) (NOAA) (2018 Edition)

- A dynamic table of content linking to each section

- A table of contents in introduction presenting a general overview of the structure