[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 49264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17016]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC20


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Meeting of the Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Advisory Panel

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and a scoping meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold a 3-day Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory 
Panel (AP) meeting in October 2007. The intent of the meeting is to 
consider options for the conservation and management of Atlantic HMS. 
This meeting will also double as a scoping meeting to consider options 
for updating HMS essential fish habitat (EFH). The meeting is open to 
the public.

DATES: The AP meeting will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 
October 2, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3, 2007, 
and from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 4, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the NOAA Science Center, 1305 
East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Douglas or Chris Rilling at 301-
713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as 
amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act, Public Law 104-297, provided 
for the establishment of an AP to assist in the collection and 
evaluation of information relevant to the development of any Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) for HMS. NMFS consults with and considers the 
comments and views of AP members when preparing and implementing FMPs 
or FMP amendments for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks. 
The AP has previously consulted with NMFS on: the HMS FMP (April 1999), 
Amendment 1 to the HMS FMP (December 2003), Amendment 1 to the Billfish 
FMP (April 1999), and the Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP (October 2006). 
The October 2007 AP meeting will focus on conservation and management 
options for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks. Topics for 
discussion will include, among others, Amendment 1 to update EFH, 
Amendment 2 to revise shark management measures, a proposed rule for 
the 2008 first trimester shark season, greenstick gear, and bluefin 
tuna specifications. NMFS will also be soliciting ideas for other 
topics covered in Amendment 1 including Habitat Areas of Particular 
Concern (HAPCs) and fishing and non-fishing impacts on EFH.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Carol Douglas at (301) 713-2347, at least 7 days 
prior to the meeting.

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

    Dated: August 22, 2007.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-17016 Filed 8-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S