[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 169 (Thursday, August 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51803-51804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7325]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081606A]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; U.S. Atlantic Swordfish 
Fishery Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice; public meetings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold five public meetings in September 2006 in order 
to obtain recommendations from swordfish fishery participants and other 
members of the public regarding potential management measures for the 
U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery so as to fully harvest the quota 
allocated to the United States by the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

DATES: The public meetings will be held in September 2006. For specific 
dates and times see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held in Peabody, MA; Manahawkin, 
NJ; Manteo, NC; Panama City, FL; and Houma, LA. For specific locations 
see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sari Kiraly at (301) 713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery is managed under the Fishery 
Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks, and 
regulations at 50 CFR part 635 under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et 
seq.). Regulations issued under the authority of ATCA implement the 
recommendations of ICCAT. In the last several years, the U.S. Atlantic 
swordfish fishery has not fully harvested the available quota allocated 
by ICCAT. The adjusted 2005 North Atlantic swordfish total quota was 
6,336.1 mt dw, which included a baseline quota of 2,937.6 and a quota 
carry-over of 3,398.5 mt dw. The total U.S. North Atlantic quota 
allocation for the 2006 fishing year is 2,937.6 mt dw, and the carry-
over is yet to be determined. NMFS anticipates that the pending 
September 2006 stock assessment may identify the North Atlantic 
swordfish stock as fully rebuilt. Fishermen and others have asked NMFS 
to assist in revitalizing this fishery. Also, at its November 2006 
meeting ICCAT will likely review swordfish management measures and 
quota allocations. Therefore NMFS is considering potential management 
measures for the U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery that would address 
factors limiting the ability to catch the allocated quota, and to aid 
in revitalizing the fishery so that swordfish are harvested in a 
sustainable and economically viable manner, while bycatch is minimized 
to the extent practicable. At the September 2006 public meetings NMFS 
wishes to obtain recommendations from swordfish fishery participants 
and other members of the public regarding potential management measures 
for the fishery to fully harvest the available quota.

[[Page 51804]]

Special Accommodations

    As listed below, NMFS will hold five public meetings to obtain 
recommendations from swordfish fishery participants and other members 
of the public regarding potential swordfish fishery management 
measures. These meetings will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Sari Kiraly at (301) 713-2347, at 
least 7 days prior to the meeting.

Public Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations

    1. September 14, 2006, from 6-8 p.m. at the Vietnamese Community 
Center of Houma, 1268 Highway 182 West, Houma, LA 70364.
    2. September 18, 2006, from 7-9 p.m. at the Manahawkin Holiday Inn, 
151 Route 72 East, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
    3. September 19, 2006, from 7-9 p.m. at the Peabody Holiday Inn, 1 
Newberry Street, Peabody, MA 01960.
    4. September 20, 2006, from 7-9 p.m. at the North Carolina Aquarium 
on Roanoke Island, 374 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954.
    5. September 21, 2006, from 6-8 p.m. at the NMFS Panama City 
Laboratory, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408.

    Dated: August 25, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-7325 Filed 8-30-06; 8:45 am]
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