[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 150 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46544-46545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19148]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE074


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 webinar/conference call.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold a 2-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Advisory Panel (AP) meeting in

[[Page 46545]]

September 2015. 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 and webinar will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 
Wednesday, September 9, 2015; and from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on 
Thursday, September 10, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Silver Spring, 8777 
Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The meeting presentations will 
also be available via WebEx webinar/conference call.
    On Wednesday, September 9, 2015, the conference call information is 
phone number 1-800-857-6552; Participant Code: 8099565; and the webinar 
event address is: https://noaaevents2.webex.com/noaaevents2/onstage/g.php?d=393951018&t=a; event password: NOAA.
    On Thursday, September 10, 2015, the conference call information is 
phone number 1-800-857-6552; Participant Code: 8099565; and the webinar 
event address is: https://noaaevents2.webex.com/noaaevents2/onstage/g.php?d=395887510&t=a; event password: NOAA.
    Participants are strongly encouraged to log/dial in fifteen minutes 
prior to the meeting. NMFS will show the presentations via webinar and 
allow public comment during identified times on the agenda.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LeAnn Hogan or Margo Schulze-Haugen at 
(301) 427-8503.

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) or FMP amendment for Atlantic 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, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 6, 7, 8, and 9 to the 2006 Atlantic 
Consolidated HMS FMP (April and October 2008, February and September 
2009, May and September 2010, April and September 2011, March and 
September 2012, January and September 2013, April and September 2014 
and March 2015), among other things.
    The intent of this meeting is to consider alternatives for the 
conservation and management of all Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfish, 
and shark fisheries. We anticipate discussing Final Amendment 6 to the 
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP on the future of shark fishery, providing 
updates on Amendment 5b on dusky shark management and Amendment 9 on 
smoothhound shark management, reviewing the results of the smoothhound 
shark stock assessment, discussing implementation of Final Amendment 7 
on bluefin tuna management measures, as well as discussing the Final 
HMS Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Review and next steps. The meeting 
will also include discussion of a survey of Atlantic HMS tournaments 
that is in development, and providing updates on various topics 
relevant to Atlantic HMS fisheries management.
    Additional information on the meeting and a copy of the draft 
agenda will be posted prior to the meeting at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/advisory_panels/hms_ap/meetings/ap_meetings.html.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to LeAnn Hogan at (301) 427-8503 at least 7 days 
prior to the meeting.

    Dated: July 30, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19148 Filed 8-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P