Current (through May 31, 2006) Recreational Retention Limits

The current (throught May 31, 2006)recreational daily BFT retention limit for vessels permitted in the HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat categories is 1 BFT/vessel/day/trip, measuring 47 to less than 73″ CFL. Stay tuned for daily retention limits beyond June 1, 2006. In addition to the daily retention limit vessels are also allowed 1 trophy BFT, measure 73″ or great/vessel/year. The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27″ curved fork length. There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas. (522) The current recreational daily swordfish retention limit is 1 fish per person, with a maximum of 3 fish per 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 current 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 hark per person per trip (no minimum size). None of these fish may be sold, and all must be reported.

2006 PERMITS NOW AVAILABLE

This system is now issuing Atlantic tunas, HMS Angling, and HMS Charter/Headboat permits for the 2006 season. Permits currently issued by this system are valid from the date issued through May 31, 2007.

2006 Fishing Year will Open on June 1, 2006.

Most of the commercial Atlantic tunas categories, including the General, Harpoon, Incidental Longline, and Trap as well as the recreational Highly Migratory Species fisheries (tunas, sharks, swordfish, and billfish) will open on June 1, 2006. The Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine category is set to start on July 15, 2006.

NMFS PROPOSES INITIAL 2006 BFT QUOTA SPECIFICATIONS

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a proposed rule to set initial 2006 fishing year quotas for the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery and effort controls. NMFS also proposes restricted fishing days for: all Saturdays and Sundays from November 18, 2006 through January 31, 2007, and November 23, 2006, and December 25, 2006, 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. NMFS also proposes initial General category retention limits and a schedule of Angling category retention limits for the 2006 fishing year as follows: General category 3 BFT per vessel; 01 June 2006 – 31 August 2006;73 inches or greater. Angling category; 3 BFT per vessel; 01 June 2006 – 31 May 2007; 47 inches to less than 73 inches. Comments on the proposed initial 2006 BFT quota specifications and effort controls should be sent to: Email:

06********@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. Written comments must be received on or before April 11, 2006. NMFS will hold four public hearings to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding these proposed initial quota specifications and effort controls. The public hearing dates and locations are: 1. March 17, 2006, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Northeast Regional Office, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930; 2. March 22, 2006, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., West Islip Public Library, 3 Higbie Lane, West Islip, NY, 11795. 3. March 24, 2006, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Worcester County Public Library, Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin, MD 21811. 4. March 27, 2006, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell Street, 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.

Current (through May 31, 2006) Recreational Retention Limits

The current (throught May 31, 2006)recreational daily BFT retention limit for vessels permitted in the HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat categories is 1 BFT/vessel/day/trip, measuring 47 to less than 73″ CFL. Stay tuned for daily retention limits beyond June 1, 2006. In addition to the daily retention limit vessels are also allowed 1 trophy BFT, measure 73″ or great/vessel/year. The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27″ curved fork length. There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas. (522) The current recreational daily swordfish retention limit is 1 fish per person, with a maximum of 3 fish per 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 current 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 hark per person per trip (no minimum size). None of these fish may be sold, and all must be reported.

2006 PERMITS NOW AVAILABLE

This system is now issuing Atlantic tunas, HMS Angling, and HMS Charter/Headboat permits for the 2006 season. Permits currently issued by this system are valid from the date issued through May 31, 2007.

2006 Fishing Year will Open on June 1, 2006.

Most of the commercial Atlantic tunas categories, including the General, Harpoon, Incidental Longline, and Trap as well as the recreational Highly Migratory Species fisheries (tunas, sharks, swordfish, and billfish) will open on June 1, 2006. The Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine category is set to start on July 15, 2006.

NMFS PROPOSES INITIAL 2006 BFT QUOTA SPECIFICATIONS

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a proposed rule to set initial 2006 fishing year quotas for the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery and effort controls. NMFS also proposes restricted fishing days for: all Saturdays and Sundays from November 18, 2006 through January 31, 2007, and November 23, 2006, and December 25, 2006, 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. NMFS also proposes initial General category retention limits and a schedule of Angling category retention limits for the 2006 fishing year as follows: General category 3 BFT per vessel; 01 June 2006 – 31 August 2006;73 inches or greater. Angling category; 3 BFT per vessel; 01 June 2006 – 31 May 2007; 47 inches to less than 73 inches. Comments on the proposed initial 2006 BFT quota specifications and effort controls should be sent to: Email:

06********@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. Written comments must be received on or before April 11, 2006. NMFS will hold four public hearings to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding these proposed initial quota specifications and effort controls. The public hearing dates and locations are: 1. March 17, 2006, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Northeast Regional Office, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930; 2. March 22, 2006, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., West Islip Public Library, 3 Higbie Lane, West Islip, NY, 11795. 3. March 24, 2006, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Worcester County Public Library, Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin, MD 21811. 4. March 27, 2006, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell Street, 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.