50 C.F.R. § 635.22 Recreational retention limits.
Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries
(a) General. Atlantic HMS caught, possessed, retained, or landed under these recreational limits may not be sold or transferred to any person for a commercial purpose. Recreational retention limits apply to a longbill spearfish taken or possessed shoreward of the outer boundary of the Atlantic EEZ, to a shark taken from or possessed in the Atlantic EEZ, to a North Atlantic swordfish taken from or possessed in the Atlantic Ocean, and to bluefin and yellowfin tuna taken from or possessed in the Atlantic Ocean. The operator of a vessel for which a retention limit applies is responsible for the vessel retention limit and for the cumulative retention limit based on the number of persons aboard. Federal recreational retention limits may not be combined with any recreational retention limit applicable in state waters. (b) Billfish. No longbill spearfish from the management unit may be possessed shoreward of the outer boundary of the EEZ. (c) Sharks. One shark from either the large coastal, small coastal, or pelagic group may be retained per vessel per trip, subject to the size limits described in §635.20(e), and, in addition, one Atlantic sharpnose shark and one bonnethead shark may be retained per person per trip. Regardless of the length of a trip, no more than one Atlantic sharpnose shark and one bonnethead shark per person may be possessed on board a vessel. No prohibited sharks from the management unit, which are listed in table 1(d) of appendix A to this part, may be retained. The recreational retention limit for sharks applies to any person who fishes in any manner, except to a person aboard a vessel who has been issued an Atlantic shark LAP under §635.4. If an Atlantic shark quota is closed under §635.28, the recreational retention limit for sharks may be applied to persons aboard a vessel issued an Atlantic shark LAP under §635.4, only if that vessel has also been issued an HMS Charter/Headboat permit issued under §635.4 and is engaged in a for-hire fishing trip. (d) Yellowfin tuna. Three yellowfin tunas per person per day may be retained. Regardless of the length of a trip, no more than three yellowfin tuna per person may be possessed on board a vessel. The recreational retention limit for yellowfin tuna applies to a person who fishes in any manner, except to a person aboard a vessel issued an Atlantic Tunas vessel permit under §635.4. The recreational retention limit for yellowfin tuna applies to persons, including captain and crew, aboard a vessel that has been issued an Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit only when the vessel is engaged in a for-hire trip. (e) Bluefin tuna. Refer to §635.23 for Atlantic bluefin tuna recreational retention limits. (f) North Atlantic swordfish. One North Atlantic swordfish per person up to three per vessel per day may be retained. Regardless of the length of a trip, no more than the daily limit of North Atlantic swordfish may be possessed on board a vessel. The recreational retention limit for North Atlantic swordfish applies to a person who fishes in any manner, except to a person aboard a vessel that has been issued a limited access North Atlantic swordfish permit under §635.4. [64 FR 29135, May 28, 1999, as amended at 64 FR 37704, July 13, 1999; 66 FR 8904, Feb. 5, 2001; 67 FR 77437, Dec. 18, 2002; 68 FR 714, Jan. 7, 2003; 68 FR 74785, Dec. 24, 2003]
Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries
PART 635—ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES
Subpart C—Management Measures
§ 635.22 Recreational retention limits.
