[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 220 (Thursday, November 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 67135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26854]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL59


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS will hold a 2-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Advisory Panel (AP) meeting in February 2009. The intent of the meeting 
is to consider options for the conservation and management of Atlantic 
HMS. The meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The AP meeting will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 
February 18, 2009, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Silver Spring, MD. At this time 
the address is unknown, but will be provided on the internet at 
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ when available. The address will not be 
published in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Othel Freeman or Chris Rilling at 301-
713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management 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: Amendment 1 to the Billfish FMP 
(April 1999), the HMS FMP (April 1999), Amendment 1 to the HMS FMP 
(December 2003), the Consolidated HMS FMP (October 2006), and 
Amendments 1 and 2 to the Consolidated HMS FMP (April and October 
2008). The February 2009 AP meeting will focus on conservation and 
management options for Atlantic tunas and sharks. NMFS is considering 
an amendment to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP for small coastal sharks 
to rebuild blacknose sharks which are overfished with overfishing 
occurring, and will consider management options for Atlantic bluefin 
tuna based on any potential management recommendations resulting from 
the 2008 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic 
Tunas (ICCAT) meeting.

Special Accommodations

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

    Dated: November 5, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26854 Filed 11-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S