[Federal Register: August 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 169)]
[Notices]
[Page 51803-51804]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au06-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 081606A]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; U.S. Atlantic Swordfish
Fishery Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meetings.
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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold five public meetings in September 2006 in order
to obtain recommendations from swordfish fishery participants and other
members of the public regarding potential management measures for the
U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery so as to fully harvest the quota
allocated to the United States by the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
DATES: The public meetings will be held in September 2006. For specific
dates and times see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this
document.
ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held in Peabody, MA; Manahawkin,
NJ; Manteo, NC; Panama City, FL; and Houma, LA. For specific locations
see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sari Kiraly at (301) 713-2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks, and
regulations at 50 CFR part 635 under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et
seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et
seq.). Regulations issued under the authority of ATCA implement the
recommendations of ICCAT. In the last several years, the U.S. Atlantic
swordfish fishery has not fully harvested the available quota allocated
by ICCAT. The adjusted 2005 North Atlantic swordfish total quota was
6,336.1 mt dw, which included a baseline quota of 2,937.6 and a quota
carry-over of 3,398.5 mt dw. The total U.S. North Atlantic quota
allocation for the 2006 fishing year is 2,937.6 mt dw, and the carry-
over is yet to be determined. NMFS anticipates that the pending
September 2006 stock assessment may identify the North Atlantic
swordfish stock as fully rebuilt. Fishermen and others have asked NMFS
to assist in revitalizing this fishery. Also, at its November 2006
meeting ICCAT will likely review swordfish management measures and
quota allocations. Therefore NMFS is considering potential management
measures for the U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery that would address
factors limiting the ability to catch the allocated quota, and to aid
in revitalizing the fishery so that swordfish are harvested in a
sustainable and economically viable manner, while bycatch is minimized
to the extent practicable. At the September 2006 public meetings NMFS
wishes to obtain recommendations from swordfish fishery participants
and other members of the public regarding potential management measures
for the fishery to fully harvest the available quota.
[[Page 51804]]
Special Accommodations
As listed below, NMFS will hold five public meetings to obtain
recommendations from swordfish fishery participants and other members
of the public regarding potential swordfish fishery management
measures. These meetings will be physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Sari Kiraly at (301) 713-2347, at
least 7 days prior to the meeting.
Public Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations
1. September 14, 2006, from 6-8 p.m. at the Vietnamese Community
Center of Houma, 1268 Highway 182 West, Houma, LA 70364.
2. September 18, 2006, from 7-9 p.m. at the Manahawkin Holiday Inn,
151 Route 72 East, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
3. September 19, 2006, from 7-9 p.m. at the Peabody Holiday Inn, 1
Newberry Street, Peabody, MA 01960.
4. September 20, 2006, from 7-9 p.m. at the North Carolina Aquarium
on Roanoke Island, 374 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954.
5. September 21, 2006, from 6-8 p.m. at the NMFS Panama City
Laboratory, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408.
Dated: August 25, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-7325 Filed 8-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S