[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR300.25]

[Page 719-720]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
        CHAPTER III--INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
 
PART 300_INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                    Subpart C_Pacific Tuna Fisheries
 
Sec. 300.25  Eastern Pacific fisheries management.

    (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 Federal Register.
    (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 Federal Register.
    (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

[[Page 720]]

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 Sec. 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]