50 C.F.R. § 300.25 Eastern Pacific fisheries management.
Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries
(a) Notification of IATTC recommendations. The Regional Administrator will directly notify owners or agents of U.S. tuna vessels of any fishery management recommendations made by the IATTC and approved by the Department of State that will affect fishing or other activities by U.S. parties with fishery interests in the Convention Area. As soon as practicable after such notification, the Regional Administrator will announce approved IATTC recommendations in the (b) Tuna quotas. (1) Fishing seasons for all tuna species begin on January 1 and end either on December 31 or when NMFS closes the fishery for a specific species. (2) The Regional Administrator may close the U.S. fishery for yellowfin, bigeye, or skipjack tuna or any other tuna species in the Convention Area or portion of the Convention Area when advised by the Director of Investigations of the IATTC that the associated quota has been or is projected to be reached. Any such closure may include: (i) An allowance for an incidental catch that may be landed while fishing for other tuna species; (ii) A prohibition on the further setting of specified gear types on floating objects by U.S. vessels in the Convention Area; (iii) Provisions for vessels that are at sea during an announced closure to fish unrestricted until the fishing trip is completed; (iv) Provisions for vessels at sea with an observer on board during any closure to land fish unrestricted if the landing occurs after December 31; or (v) Other measures to ensure that the conservation and management measures of the IATTC are achieved. (3) The Regional Administrator will announce any such closures directly to the owners or agents of U.S. vessels who are fishing in or are eligible to fish in the Convention Area. (4) As soon as practicable after being advised of the quota attainment or projection under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the Regional Administrator will publish an announcement of the closure in the (c) Use of tender vessels. No person subject to these regulations may use a tender vessel in the Convention Area. (d) Transshipments at sea. No person subject to these regulations may transship purse seine-caught tuna from one vessel to another vessel at sea within the Convention Area. (e) Bycatch reduction measures. (1) Through December 31, 2001, all purse seine vessels must retain on board and land all bigeye, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna brought on board the vessel after a set, except fish deemed unfit for human consumption for other than reason of size. This requirement shall not apply to the last set of a trip if the available well capacity is insufficient to accommodate the entire fish catch brought on board. (2) All purse seine vessels must release all sharks, billfishes, rays, mahimahi (dorado), and other non-tuna fish species, except those being retained for consumption aboard the vessel, as soon as practicable after being identified on board the vessel during the brailing operation. (3) All purse seine vessels must apply special sea turtle handling and release procedures, as follows: (i) Whenever a sea turtle is sighted in the net, a speedboat shall be stationed close to the point where the net is lifted out of the water to assist in release of the turtle; (ii) If a turtle is entangled in the net, net roll shall stop as soon as the turtle comes out of the water and shall not resume until the turtle has been disentangled and released; (iii) If, in spite of the measures taken under paragraphs (e)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section, a turtle is accidentally brought onboard the vessel alive and active, the vessel's engine shall be disengaged and the turtle shall be released as quickly as practicable; (iv) If a turtle brought on board under paragraph (e)(3)(iii) of this section is alive but comatose or inactive, the resuscitation procedures described in §223.206(d)(1)(i)(B) of this title shall be used before release of the turtle. [64 FR 44431, Aug. 16, 1999, as amended at 66 FR 49320, Sept. 27, 2001. Redesignated at 69 FR 67277, Nov. 17, 2004]
Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries
PART 300—INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS
Subpart C—Pacific Tuna Fisheries
§ 300.25 Eastern Pacific fisheries management.
