[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6841-6842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03114]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG017


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 3-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Advisory Panel (AP) meeting in March 2018. 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 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
on Wednesday, March 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 
8, and from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, March 9.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Silver Spring 
Hotel, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The meeting 
presentations will also be available via WebEx webinar/conference call.
    The meeting on Wednesday, March 7, Thursday, March 8, and Friday, 
March 9, 2018, will also be accessible via conference call and webinar. 
Conference call and webinar access information are available at: 
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/event/march-2018-hms-advisory-panel-meeting.
    Participants are strongly encouraged to log/dial in 15 minutes 
prior to the meeting. NMFS will show the presentations via webinar and 
allow

[[Page 6842]]

public comment during identified times on the agenda.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cooper or Randy Blankinship 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 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, 9, and 10 to the 2006 
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, 
March and September 2015, and March, September, and December 2016, and 
May and September 2017), 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:
     Domestic implementation of recommendations from the 2017 
meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas to include an emergency rule for shortfin mako sharks, 
Draft Amendment 11 on shortfin mako sharks, bluefin tuna and northern 
albacore tuna quotas, and issues for 2018;
     Three-year review of Amendment 7 on bluefin tuna 
management;
     Progress updates on various other rulemakings, including 
shark fishery closure criteria, evaluation of existing bluefin tuna 
management-related gear restricted areas, and evaluation of existing 
fishing gear modification;
     Recreational fishery issues;
     Closed area data collection and an update regarding the 
exempted fishing permit request to conduct research in pelagic longline 
closed areas; and
     Updates on shark stock assessments.
    We also anticipate inviting other NMFS offices to provide updates, 
if available, on their activities relevant to HMS fisheries such as 
listings under the Endangered Species Act and Pelagic Longline Take 
Reduction Team rulemaking. Finally, we intend to invite other NMFS 
offices and the United States Coast Guard to provide updates on their 
activities relevant to HMS fisheries.
    Additional information on the meeting and a copy of the draft 
agenda will be posted prior to the meeting at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/event/march-2018-hms-advisory-panel-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 Peter Cooper at (301) 427-8503 at least 7 days 
prior to the meeting.

    Dated: February 9, 2018.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-03114 Filed 2-14-18; 8:45 am]
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