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DOC/NOAA RIN: 0648-BA45 Publication ID: Spring 2011 
Title: ●Modification of Regulations Governing the Retention of Incidentally-Caught Highly Migratory Species in Atlantic Trawl Fisheries 
Abstract: This rule proposes to modify the regulations governing Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) to address the retention of incidentally-caught North Atlantic swordfish in squid trawl fisheries, and the retention of incidentally caught species in the smoothhound shark complex (which includes smooth dogfish and Florida smoothhound (genus Mustelus)) in all Atlantic trawl fisheries. Trawl gear is not authorized in Atlantic HMS fisheries, but an allowance for the retention of incidentally-caught swordfish in trawl gears has been established to reduce regulatory discards. This rule would consider modifying the allowance for incidentally-caught HMS in trawl gears to reduce regulatory dead discards, to the extent practicable, by converting discards into landings, improve fishery data collection, provide additional opportunities for the U.S. swordfish quota to be caught, and accommodate traditional fishing methods (i.e., trawls) that incidentally capture North Atlantic swordfish and smoothhound shark species. 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 635   
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  03/18/2011  76 FR 14884   
NPRM Comment Period End  04/17/2011    
Final Action  06/00/2011    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes 
Agency Contact:
Margo Schulze-Haugen
Supervisory Fish Management Officer
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone:301 713-0234
Fax:301 713-1917
Email: margo.schulze-haugen@noaa.gov