NOAA Fisheries has proposed daily bag limits for sport-caught albacore tuna and bluefin tuna in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off California as part of the 2007-2009 biennial management cycle. This proposed rule would establish a daily bag limit of 10 albacore tuna harvested in the U.S. EEZ south of Point Conception to the U.S.-Mexico border and a daily bag limit of 25 albacore tuna harvested in the U.S. EEZ north of Point Conception to the California-Oregon border.
The two bag limits for albacore tuna are intended to accommodate differences in the northern and southern areas. The 25 fish albacore tuna bag limit north of Point Conception is consistent with the current bag limit in Oregon State waters, and recognizes the more frequent weather-related loss of fishing opportunity in these waters.
This proposed rule would also establish a daily bag limit of 10 bluefin tuna in the U.S. EEZ off the entire California coast.
Comments may be sent to 0648-AU77.SWR@noaa.gov through July 27, 2007.
