Highly Migratory Species: Comments Requested on Issues & Options Paper, Nine Public Meetings Scheduled NOAA Fisheries announces the availability of an Issues and Options paper for Amendment 2 to the Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks Fishery Management Plan (HMS FMP) and Amendment 2 to the Billfish Fishery Management Plan (Billfish FMP), request public comment, and announces the dates and times of nine public meetings. This paper examines management alternatives to issues raised by the HMS and Billfish advisory panels (APs) and by the general public. In February 2004, NOAA Fisheries met with the APs for HMS and Billfish to discuss fishery management issues and potential options for future rulemaking. The Issues and Options paper raises issues and lists potential options to address these issues. Some of the issues include: General category quota allocation of Atlantic bluefin tuna, filleting tunas at sea, changing the swordfish bag limit for anglers, changing the large coastal shark trip limit for directed permit holders, streamlining the limited access permit program, non-tournament reporting of billfish harvest, species identification workshops, implementation of the bycatch reduction plan, simplifying the quota and permitting administrative processes for exempted fishing permits, and updating essential fish habitat (EFH) identifications for all HMS. These management measures could affect fishermen, dealers, equipment suppliers, or anyone who is involved in HMS fisheries. NOAA Fisheries plans to attend and present the Issues and Options paper at several Fishery Management Council meetings that occur in May and June 2004. For a copy of the paper and a list of scheduled public meetings go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms or contact Chris Rilling with the HMS Management Division at 301-713-2347. Highly Migratory Species: Comments Requested on Issues & Options Paper, Nine Public Meetings Scheduled NOAA Fisheries announces the availability of an Issues and Options paper for Amendment 2 to the Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks Fishery Management Plan (HMS FMP) and Amendment 2 to the Billfish Fishery Management Plan (Billfish FMP), request public comment, and announces the dates and times of nine public meetings. This paper examines management alternatives to issues raised by the HMS and Billfish advisory panels (APs) and by the general public. In February 2004, NOAA Fisheries met with the APs for HMS and Billfish to discuss fishery management issues and potential options for future rulemaking. The Issues and Options paper raises issues and lists potential options to address these issues. Some of the issues include: General category quota allocation of Atlantic bluefin tuna, filleting tunas at sea, changing the swordfish bag limit for anglers, changing the large coastal shark trip limit for directed permit holders, streamlining the limited access permit program, non-tournament reporting of billfish harvest, species identification workshops, implementation of the bycatch reduction plan, simplifying the quota and permitting administrative processes for exempted fishing permits, and updating essential fish habitat (EFH) identifications for all HMS. These management measures could affect fishermen, dealers, equipment suppliers, or anyone who is involved in HMS fisheries. NOAA Fisheries plans to attend and present the Issues and Options paper at several Fishery Management Council meetings that occur in May and June 2004. For a copy of the paper and a list of scheduled public meetings go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms or contact Chris Rilling with the HMS Management Division at 301-713-2347.
