Based on the 2002 quota recommended for the United States by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic tunas (ICCAT), 2004 fishing year underharvests/overharvests, and the unused portion of the dead discard allowance, NOAA Fisheries proposes for the 2005 fishing year the quotas (see table in library), which also shows the proposed time-period subquotas for the General category. NOAA Fisheries also proposes restricted fishing days for: all Friday, Saturday, and Sundays from November 18, 2005 through January 31, 2006, and November 24, 2005, inclusive, provided the fishery remains open. These days are intended to extend the General category BFT fishery into the late season for the southern Atlantic region. Finally NOAA Fisheries is also seeking public comment on options for achieving ICCAT¿s recommended four-year average eight percent tolerance on harvest of school BFT. Comments on the proposed initial 2005 BFT quota specifications, General category effort controls, and options to comply with the ICCAT eight percent school tolerance harvest recommendation should be sent to: Email: 05********@no**.gov; Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http:www.regulations.gov; Mail: Dianne Stephan, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), NMFS, One Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930; Fax: 978-281-9340. NOAA Fisheries Service will hold two public hearings to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding these proposed initial quota specifications and General category effort controls. The public hearing dates and locations are: 1. April 8; 3-4:30 p.m.; Northeast Regional Office, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930; 2. April 11, 7-8:30 p.m.; Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3500 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC 28557. This notice is a courtesy to BFT fishery participants to help keep you informed about your fishery. Official notice of Federal fishery actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of the Federal Register. For further information contact the HMS Management Division at (978) 281-9260.

NOAA Fisheries Proposes Initial BFT Quotas and Effort Controls for 2005

Based on the 2002 quota recommended for the United States by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic tunas (ICCAT), 2004 fishing year underharvests/overharvests, and the unused portion of the dead discard allowance, NOAA Fisheries proposes for the 2005 fishing year the quotas (see table in library), which also shows the proposed time-period subquotas for the General category. NOAA Fisheries also proposes restricted fishing days for: all Friday, Saturday, and Sundays from November 18, 2005 through January 31, 2006, and November 24, 2005, inclusive, provided the fishery remains open. These days are intended to extend the General category BFT fishery into the late season for the southern Atlantic region. Finally NOAA Fisheries is also seeking public comment on options for achieving ICCAT¿s recommended four-year average eight percent tolerance on harvest of school BFT. Comments on the proposed initial 2005 BFT quota specifications, General category effort controls, and options to comply with the ICCAT eight percent school tolerance harvest recommendation should be sent to: Email: 05********@no**.gov; Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http:www.regulations.gov; Mail: Dianne Stephan, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), NMFS, One Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930; Fax: 978-281-9340. NOAA Fisheries Service will hold two public hearings to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding these proposed initial quota specifications and General category effort controls. The public hearing dates and locations are: 1. April 8; 3-4:30 p.m.; Northeast Regional Office, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930; 2. April 11, 7-8:30 p.m.; Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3500 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC 28557. This notice is a courtesy to BFT fishery participants to help keep you informed about your fishery. Official notice of Federal fishery actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of the Federal Register. For further information contact the HMS Management Division at (978) 281-9260.

Based on the 2002 quota recommended for the United States by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic tunas (ICCAT), 2004 fishing year underharvests/overharvests, and the unused portion of the dead discard allowance, NOAA Fisheries proposes for the 2005 fishing year the quotas (see table in library), which also shows the proposed time-period subquotas for the General category. NOAA Fisheries also proposes restricted fishing days for: all Friday, Saturday, and Sundays from November 18, 2005 through January 31, 2006, and November 24, 2005, inclusive, provided the fishery remains open. These days are intended to extend the General category BFT fishery into the late season for the southern Atlantic region. Finally NOAA Fisheries is also seeking public comment on options for achieving ICCAT’s recommended four-year average eight percent tolerance on harvest of school BFT. Comments on the proposed initial 2005 BFT quota specifications, General category effort controls, and options to comply with the ICCAT eight percent school tolerance harvest recommendation should be sent to: Email: 05********@no**.gov; Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http:www.regulations.gov; Mail: Dianne Stephan, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), NMFS, One Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930; Fax: 978-281-9340. NOAA Fisheries Service will hold two public hearings to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding these proposed initial quota specifications and General category effort controls. The public hearing dates and locations are: 1. April 8; 3-4:30 p.m.; Northeast Regional Office, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930; 2. April 11, 7-8:30 p.m.; Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3500 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC 28557. This notice is a courtesy to BFT fishery participants to help keep you informed about your fishery. Official notice of Federal fishery actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of the Federal Register. For further information contact the HMS Management Division at (978) 281-9260.