THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 13, 1996 TAG: 9606130403
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Local Briefs
LENGTH: 24 lines
Officials with the National Marine Fisheries Service transferred 95 metric tons of the bluefin tuna reserve into the angling category Wednesday and announced a re-opening of the large school-small medium segment of that fishery.
Beginning June 18, anglers will be allowed to keep one fish each per day between 135 and 235 pounds. Captains can keep one fish each of that size per boat. Recreational fishermen can continue to catch bluefin tuna weighing more than 235 pounds under the tag and release program.
Most commercial catches of bluefin tuna in North Carolina, however, remain limited or illegal because of strict by-catch requirements.
Federal fisheries officials increased minimum size limits on yellowfin and bigeye tuna to 27 inches so that those lengths will conform with minimum bluefin tuna sizes.
For more information, call the National Marine Fisheries Service, (301) 713-1279 or (301) 713-2370. by CNB