Did y'all see these new regs concerning BFT fishing. It effects those south of Great Egg inlet.
Country
Pulled from the NMFS web site:
last updated: 6/9/2010
UPDATE TO RECREATIONAL BFT RETENTION LIMITS
NMFS announces the following three actions regarding the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Angling category fishery: STARTING ON SATURDAY JUNE 12TH (1) adjustment of the daily retention limit for private vessels to one school or large school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 59 inches) per vessel per day/trip and for charter vessels to one school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches) and one large school BFT (measuring 47 to less than 59 inches) per vessel per day/trip, for the remainder of the 2010 fishing year, (2) closure of the southern area large medium/giant “trophy” BFT fishery (for BFT measuring 73 inches and greater), and (3) transfer of 1.7 mt from the Reserve to the northern area trophy category subquota. The Angling category North/South line is at 39°18’ N. lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ). These adjustments are intended to provide a reasonable opportunity to harvest the U.S. landings quota of BFT without exceeding it, while maintaining an equitable distribution of fishing opportunities; to help achieve optimum yield in the BFT fishery, to collect a broad range of data for stock monitoring purposes; and to be consistent with the objectives of the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP)
Coastwide General Category BFT Fishery will reopen on 6/1 at 3 fish
The coastwide General category Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery will reopen on June 1. Starting on June 1, the daily retention limit for vessels permitted in the Atlantic tunas General or HMS Charter/Headboat categories (while fishing commercially), will be 3 BFT/vessel/day/trip measuring 73" or greater CFL. Vessels permitted in the Atlantic tunas General or HMS Charter/Headboat categories may catch and release or tag and release BFT of all size classes prior to June 1. The Gulf of Mexico is designated as a spawning grounds for BFT and therefore NMFS does not allow vessels, commercial or recreational, to target BFT while fishing in this area.
2010 Recreational Atlantic Tunas Retention Limits
The current recreational daily bluefin tuna (BFT) retention for limit for HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels (while fishing recreationally) is 1 BFT/vessel/day/trip, measuring 27 to less than 73" CFL. STARTING SATURDAY JUNE 12, the daily retention limit for private vessels will be one school or large school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 59 inches) per vessel per day/trip and for charter vessels one school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches) and one large school BFT (measuring 47 to less than 59 inches) per vessel per day/trip, for the remainder of the 2010 fishing year, These BFT retention limits are effective for all areas, except for the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is designated as a spawning grounds for BFT and therefore NMFS does not allow vessels, commercial or recreational, to target BFT while fishing in this area. However, HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Heaboats are eligible to retain 1 BFT (73 inches or greater) per vessel per year as a “trophy” fish for the boat. This fish may be retained in the Gulf of Mexico if it is caught incidentally while pursuing other species. The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person/day/trip. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork length. There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas.
Other 2010 HMS Recreational Limits
The recreational daily swordfish retention limit is 1 fish per person, with a maximum of 4 fish per private vessel, 6 for a charter vessel, and 15 for a headboat vessel. The minimum size for swordfish within the recreational fishery is 47 inches, lower jaw-fork length. You may not keep longbill spearfish. There are no retention limits for Atlantic sailfish, blue marlin and white marlin, but the NOAA Fisheries encourages recreational anglers to release all billfish alive. The minimum sizes for billfish are as follows: Blue Marlin: 99 inches lower jaw fork length; White Marlin: 66 inches lower jaw fork length; Sailfish: 63 inches lower jaw fork length; Spearfish: Retention prohibited. Lower jaw fork length is a straight line measurement from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the caudal fin. The recreational limit on sharks is 1 shark per vessel per trip with a minimum size of 54 inches fork length; plus on Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no minimum size); plus 1 bonnethead shark per person per trip (no minimum size). None of these fish may be sold. Swordfish and billfish landed must be reported. For swordfish and billfish reporting, call 800-894-5528. For NC and MD landings call 410-213-1531 or 800-338-7804 respectively.
2010 BFT Quotas and Effort Controls
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has finialized the 2010 fishing year quotas for the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery and effort controls based on the western Atlantic BFT Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and resulting total U.S. quota recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) (SEE LIBRARY FOR FULL NOTICE). The TAC is intended to rebuild the stock consistent with the BFT rebuilding program and end overfishing by 2010, rebuild the stock by 2019, and minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality to the extent practicable. To view the final rule and supporting documents, see
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/breaking_news.html.
PERMITS FOR 2010 ARE NOW AVAILABLE
The 2010 open access Atlantic Tunas Permit, which allows you to commercially fish for and/or retain Atlantic bluefin, yellowfin, skipjack, albacore, and bigeye tunas; an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit, which allows you to recreationally fish for and/or retain any regulated Atlantic HMS (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish, or billfish); or an HMS Charter/Headboat Permit, which is required by vessels taking fee paying passengers fishing for or retaining HMS, are now available. The permits issued for the 2010 season will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2010. The permit fee is $20.00, payable by credit card (Visa, Master Card, Discover, or American Express) or check/money order. You will need your Atlantic tunas or your Atlantic HMS permit number to renew your permit for this up coming season. If you do not have your permit number from last year available, you may look it up at
www.hmspermits.gov using your last name, phone number, and zip code, or a Customer Service representative may assist at the number below. Please check your current permit information carefully prior to renewing your permit. Please Note: Changes to you permit category may be made under the following circumstances: a) When you renew the permit for the upcoming season; b) Within 10-calendar days from the permits’ date of issuance, to correct any errors in permit category. If you have questions regarding the permit process, our Customer Service representatives are available at (888) 872 8862, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
2009 Final BFT Quotas and Effort Controls
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the final rule to establish the 2009 fishing year quotas for the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery and effort controls based on the reduced 2009 western Atlantic BFT Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and resulting total U.S. quota recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) (see attached table). In addition to establishing quotas, in accordance with the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (Consolidated HMS FMP), this final rule makes underharvest adjustments, as necessary, for the 2009 fishing year (January 1- December 31, 2009). (VISIT THE LIBRARY FOR A FULL DESCIPTION OF THE QUOTAS AND RETENTION LIMITS
