[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28750-28751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08396]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD882]


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 May 2024. 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 on Tuesday, May 14, from 
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET; Wednesday, May 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET; 
and Thursday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET.

[[Page 28751]]


ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Silver 
Spring Hotel, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The meeting 
will also be accessible via WebEx webinar/conference call. Conference 
call and webinar access information are available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/event/may-2024-hms-advisory-panel-meeting.
    Participants accessing the webinar are strongly encouraged to log/
dial in 15 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: Peter Cooper ([email protected]) 
or Lisa Crawford ([email protected]) at 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic HMS fisheries (tunas, billfish, 
swordfish, and sharks) are managed under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic 
HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its amendments pursuant to the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and consistent with 
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). HMS 
implementing regulations are at 50 CFR part 635.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires the establishment of APs and 
requires NMFS to consult with and consider the comments and views of AP 
members during the preparation and implementation of FMPs or FMP 
amendments (16 U.S.C. 1854(g)(1)(A)-(B)). NMFS meets with the HMS AP 
approximately twice each year to consider potential alternatives for 
the conservation and management of Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfish, 
and shark fisheries, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    Some of the discussion topics are:
     Outcomes of the 2023 International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Annual Meeting;
     Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery update: management and 
recent trends;
     Atlantic shark fishery update: management and recent 
trends;
     Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP regarding 
spatial management; and
     Atlantic HMS fishing gear considerations.
    We also anticipate inviting other NMFS offices and the U.S. Coast 
Guard to provide updates, if available, on their activities relevant to 
HMS fisheries. Additional information on the meetings and a copy of the 
draft agenda will be posted prior to the meeting (see ADDRESSES).
    All members of the public will have virtual access to the meeting 
available via webinar and status updates of in-person public access to 
the meeting will be available on the NMFS website (see ADDRESSES). The 
meeting location 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: April 16, 2024.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-08396 Filed 4-18-24; 8:45 am]
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