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DOC/NOAA

RIN: 0648-AQ65

Publication ID: Spring 2006

Title: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Recreational Atlantic Blue and White Marlin Landings Limit; Amendments to the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks and the Fishery
Abstract: This rule would withdraw the proposed rule published on September 17, 2003 (68 FR 54410), and proposes new management measures to implement domestic management measures based upon recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) regarding a recreational landings of Atlantic blue and white marlin to 250 fish. This rule also addresses numerous issues for the Atlantic tunas, swordfish, shark, and billfish fisheries. These issues include reviewing data for updates as part of a 5-year review of essential fish habitat; considering workshops to reduce bycatch and bycatch mortality, increase regulatory compliance, and increase communication with fishermen; reviewing current time/area closures and the need for modifications; addressing overfishing of finetooth sharks, northern albacore tuna, and Atlantic billfish; adjusting bluefin tuna effort controls and quota allocations to improve management; considering changes to the fishing year definition and currently authorized gear types; and correcting incorrect or outdated sections of the regulations. This rule also combines the two fishery management plans into one document. This action would affect fishermen fishing for highly migratory species in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Many of the actions in this rule will simplify or improve the management of the fisheries to help fishermen understand the regulations and the management process. Other actions in this rule could change quota allocations, but would not likely change overall quotas. Additionally, while the actions may establish new requirements, such as workshops, or modify existing requirements, such as the time/area closures, the actions are not expected to reduce the number of people fishing for highly migratory species. Some actions - for example, modifications to time/area closures - could have negative or positive economic impacts, depending on the extent of the changes needed.
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)	Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant
RIN Status: Previously 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 et seq 16 USC 971 et seq

Legal Deadline: None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	09/17/2003	68 FR 54410
NPRM Comment Period End	10/24/2003
NPRM	08/19/2005	70 FR 48804
Hearing	09/07/2005	70 FR 53146
Correction	09/23/2005	70 FR 55618
Correction	10/05/2005	70 FR 58177
NPRM Comment Period End	10/18/2005
Hearing	12/27/2005	70 FR 76441
Final Action	07/00/2006

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: Businesses	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
Agency Contact: Alan Risenhoover Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13362, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone:301 713-2334 Fax:301 713-0596 Email: alan.risenhoover@noaa.gov