ANGLING CATEGORY BFT FISHERY WILL CLOSE MARCH 11, 2005


ANGLING CATEGORY BFT FISHERY WILL CLOSE MARCH 11, 2005


NOAA Fisheries Service announces that effective 11:30 p.m. local time on March 11, 2005, the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Angling category fishery will close in all areas. Therefore, fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing BFT by persons aboard vessels in the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat categories must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time March 11, 2005. NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that this closure is necessary to prevent overharvest of the available quota established for the Angling category. Vessel owner/operators may continue to tag and release BFT of all sizes under a tag-and-release program, provided that all BFT are tagged with conventional tags issued or approved by NOAA Fisheries, returns such fish to the sea immediately after tagging with a minimum of injury, and reports the tagging (50 CFR § 635.26). For tagging kits please call 1-800-437-3936. For further information contact the HMS Management Division at 978-281-9260.


ANGLING CATEGORY BFT FISHERY WILL CLOSE MARCH 11, 2005


NOAA Fisheries Service announces that effective 11:30 p.m. local time on March 11, 2005, the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Angling category fishery will close in all areas. Therefore, fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing BFT by persons aboard vessels in the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat categories must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time March 11, 2005. NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that this closure is necessary to prevent overharvest of the available quota established for the Angling category. Vessel owner/operators may continue to tag and release BFT of all sizes under a tag-and-release program, provided that all BFT are tagged with conventional tags issued or approved by NOAA Fisheries, returns such fish to the sea immediately after tagging with a minimum of injury, and reports the tagging (50 CFR § 635.26). For tagging kits please call 1-800-437-3936. For further information contact the HMS Management Division at 978-281-9260.