General Category Re-opens January 2 – 4, 2005, and transfers BFT Quota NOAA Fisheries has determined to reopen the coastwide General category Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery for the time period of 12:30 a.m. January 2 through 11:30 p.m. January 4, 2005, inclusive. NOAA Fisheries has also determined that a quota transfer from the Atlantic tunas Purse seine category to the Reserve category in the amount of 100.0 metric tons (mt) is warranted. This action is being taken to ensure that U.S. BFT harvest is consistent with recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, pursuant to the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, to meet domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The General category daily retention limit during this reopening is one large medium or giant BFT, measuring 73 inches or greater (185 cm or greater) curved fork length (CFL) per vessel/day/trip and applies in all areas, for all vessels fishing under the General category quota (i.e., permitted Atlantic tunas General and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels). Fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant BFT by persons fishing under the General category quota must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time January 4, 2005. General Category Re-opens January 2 – 4, 2005, and transfers BFT Quota NOAA Fisheries has determined to reopen the coastwide General category Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery for the time period of 12:30 a.m. January 2 through 11:30 p.m. January 4, 2005, inclusive. NOAA Fisheries has also determined that a quota transfer from the Atlantic tunas Purse seine category to the Reserve category in the amount of 100.0 metric tons (mt) is warranted. This action is being taken to ensure that U.S. BFT harvest is consistent with recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, pursuant to the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, to meet domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The General category daily retention limit during this reopening is one large medium or giant BFT, measuring 73 inches or greater (185 cm or greater) curved fork length (CFL) per vessel/day/trip and applies in all areas, for all vessels fishing under the General category quota (i.e., permitted Atlantic tunas General and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels). Fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant BFT by persons fishing under the General category quota must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time January 4, 2005.
