[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 84 (Friday, April 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23730-23732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9854]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 060603D]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Issues and Options Paper 
for Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, 
Swordfish, and Sharks (HMS FMP) and Amendment 2 to the Atlantic 
Billfish Fishery Management Plan (Billfish FMP)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of public scoping meetings, 
notice of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of a paper describing issues 
and options for Amendment 2 to the

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HMS FMP and for Amendment 2 to the Billfish FMP. The issues and options 
paper describes a wide range of potential management measures that 
could affect fishermen, dealers, or equipment suppliers for the 
Atlantic tuna, swordfish, shark, or billfish fisheries. NMFS also 
announces a series of public scoping meetings to discuss and collect 
comments on the issues described in the issues and options paper. 
Comments received on the issues and options paper and in the scoping 
meetings will assist NMFS in developing Amendment 2 to the HMS FMP and 
Amendment 2 to the Billfish FMP.

DATES: Written comments on the issues and options paper must be 
received no later than July 14, 2004.
    The public scoping meetings will be held in May and June, 2004. For 
specific dates and times, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action should be mailed to 
Christopher Rogers, Chief, NMFS Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; or faxed to 
(301) 713-1917. Comments on this NOA may also be submitted by e-mail: 
[email protected]. Copies of the issues and options paper or the 
HMS and Billfish FMPs can be obtained from the HMS website at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms, by contacting Karyl Brewster-Geisz at (301) 
713-2347, or by writing to the address above.
    The public scoping meetings will be held in Gloucester, MA; Ocean 
City, MD; New Orleans, LA; Manteo, NC; San Juan, PR; Destin, FL; 
Montauk, NY; Port Aransas, TX; and Cocoa Beach, FL; for specific 
locations, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz at (301) 713-
2347, Mark Murray-Brown at (978) 281-9260, or Russell Dunn at (727) 
570-5447.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic tuna, swordfish, shark and billfish 
fisheries are managed under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and regulated pursuant to the 
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), which authorizes rulemaking to 
implement recommendations of the International Convention for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Implementing regulations for 
both the HMS FMP and the Billfish FMP are at 50 CFR part 635.

Background

    NMFS has received numerous recommendations and comments regarding 
fishery management issues and regulations from the HMS and Billfish 
Advisory Panels (APs) and other members of the public regarding the 
1999 HMS and Billfish FMPs, and their respective amendments. An 
amendment to the HMS and Billfish FMPs is necessary to address many of 
these issues and to enact management alternatives. On July 9, 2003 (68 
FR 40907), NMFS published a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental 
Policy Act that would assess potential effects on the human environment 
of actions proposed under Amendment 2 to the HMS FMP and under 
Amendment 2 to the Billfish FMP. The NOI identified potential actions 
that could be incorporated into Amendment 2 including, but not limited 
to: adjusting Atlantic Bluefin Tuna quota allocations, revising the 
limited access permit program, identifying essential fish habitat, 
addressing swordfish and shark quota allocation issues, and issuance of 
exempted fishing permits. In February 2004, NMFS met with the APs and 
discussed these and other potential issues and options. As a result of 
discussion with the APs and the comments received on the NOI, NMFS 
compiled an Issues and Options paper for Amendment 2 to the HMS FMP and 
for Amendment 2 to the Billfish FMP.
    The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the 
availability of the issues and options paper. This paper provides a 
framework for receiving public comments and for evaluating those 
comments as NMFS considers what actions should be incorporated into 
Amendment 2 or other rulemakings. NMFS will hold nine scoping meetings 
to gather public comments on the issues and options described in the 
paper. Written comments can be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES).
    After scoping has been completed and public comments have been 
gathered and analyzed, NMFS will proceed, as appropriate, with the 
preparation of draft EISs for Amendment 2 to the HMS and Billfish FMPs 
and of a proposed rule. NMFS will then provide additional opportunities 
for public comment. Until the EISs, amendments, and proposed rule 
documents are finalized, all current regulations regarding HMS 
fisheries will remain in effect.

Request for Comments

    NMFS requests public comments on a wide range of management options 
for Amendment 2 to the HMS and Billfish FMPs. These management measures 
could affect fishermen, dealers, equipment suppliers, or anyone 
involved with HMS fisheries. Some of the issues and potential options 
for which NMFS is requesting comment include, but are not limited to: 
modifying the General category allocation of Bluefin tuna; filleting 
Atlantic tuna at sea; modifying the swordfish bag limit for anglers; 
changing the large coastal shark trip limit for directed permit 
holders; streamlining the limited access permit program; simplifying 
the quota and permitting administrative processes for exempted fishing 
permits; modifying non-tournament reporting of billfish harvest; 
establishing outreach workshops; implementing the bycatch reduction 
plan; and updating essential fish habitat identifications and data for 
all HMS. Comments received on these and other relevant issues will 
assist NMFS in determining suitable alternatives to rulemaking actions 
and will improve the management of Atlantic HMS.

Schedule of Public Scoping Meetings

    The dates, times, and locations of these meetings are scheduled as 
follows:

1. Wednesday, May 19, 2004. 7-9 p.m.

    Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Ave., Gloucester, 
MA 01930.

2. Wednesday, June 2, 2004. 7-9 p.m.

    Ocean City Council Chambers, 301 Baltimore Ave., Ocean City, MD 
21842.

3. Thursday, June 3, 2004. 7-9 p.m.

    Elquier Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Drive, New Orleans, LA 
70131.

4. Tuesday, June 8, 2004. 7-9 p.m.

    North Carolina Aquarium, Roanoke Island, P.O. Box 967, Airport 
Road, Manteo, NC 27954.

5. Thursday, June 10, 2004. 2-4 p.m.

    Ponce de Leon Ave 7, San Juan, PR 00901.

6. Thursday, June 17, 2004. 7-9 p.m.

    101 Stahlman Ave., Destin, FL 32541.

7. Tuesday, June 22, 2004. 7-9 p.m.

    12 Flamingo Avenue, Montauk, NY 11954.

8. Thursday, June 24, 2004. 7-9 p.m.

    Marine Science Institute, Visitors Center (located on Cotter St. 
near

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beach), 750 Channel View Dr., Port Aransas, TX 78373.

9. Wednesday, June 30, 2004. 7-9 p.m.

    550 North Brevard Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings will be accessible to people with physical 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Heather Stirratt, (301) 713-2347.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 27, 2004.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-9854 Filed 4-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S