[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 65 (Friday, April 4, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16132-16133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8567]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 285, 630, 644, and 678

[I.D. 030497E]


Establishment of Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panels; 
Combination of Fishery Management Plans

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed process; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits comments on the feasibility of developing 
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for Atlantic shark, swordfish, and 
tunas. If NMFS were to develop one FMP, it would establish one Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) for those species to assist 
NMFS in the collection and evaluation of information relevant to the 
preparation of the consolidated HMS management plan for those species. 
A combined HMS FMP and AP would reduce the burden on the AP members, in 
addition to being consistent with existing laws such as the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other holistic, 
ecosystem approaches to fishery management. The HMS AP would include 
representatives from all interests in Atlantic HMS fisheries.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Rebecca Lent, Chief, Highly 
Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Comments may be submitted by fax: 301-713-
1917.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kelly, 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq., as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (Public Law 104-297) 
FMPs shall be prepared with respect to any HMS fishery. APs must be 
established to consult with NMFS in the collection and evaluation of 
information relevant to the preparation or amendment of HMS FMPs. 
Nominations have already been solicited for a billfish AP and a pelagic 
longline AP. Prior to requesting nominations for AP members regarding 
tunas, sharks or swordfish, NMFS solicits comments on options for 
developing FMPs for Atlantic tunas, shark, and swordfish. Separate FMPs 
already exist for billfish, sharks, and swordfish. No FMP exists for 
Atlantic tunas.
    Due to the overlap of biological characteristics and management 
issues concerning Atlantic tunas, sharks, and swordfish, NMFS believes 
there may be benefit to combining some or all of the FMPs to reduce 
time and financial resources and to produce a cohesive plan for 
multispecies fishery management. Likewise, participants and interested 
parties overlap in these HMS fisheries, and NMFS believes there may be 
benefit to combining some or all of the APs to reduce time and 
financial resources needed for participation in the APs as well as the 
administration of the APs. A combined Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and 
shark FMP could also be less burdensome to the constituency in that 
many issues are common to the three species groups.
    The purpose of the combined HMS AP would be to assist NMFS in the 
development of this FMP. The first action would be the development of 
new requirements (i.e., bycatch, overfishing) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act.
    In addition, a combined HMS FMP for these species would be 
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NEPA, regulatory reform 
(consolidated HMS regulations), and other holistic ecosystem approaches 
to fishery management. HMS fisheries and HMS stocks are interdependent. 
Boundaries overlap between fisheries, gears, and geographical locations 
and an ecosystem approach to management would be useful and efficient.

[[Page 16133]]

    An alternative approach could include developing a separate 
Atlantic tunas FMP and combining the existing shark and swordfish FMPs 
into one. However, similarities among these fisheries and the 
participation of many fishermen in all three fisheries make this option 
less preferable.
    A final option would include developing a separate Atlantic tunas 
FMP and keeping the existing shark and swordfish FMPs separate. This 
option appears to be the least desirable as evidenced by recent public 
comments concerning proposed amendments to these two FMPs.
    NMFS is also soliciting comments on the appropriate role of 
existing advisory groups and or processes (Shark Operations Team, 
Negotiated Rulemaking for Atlantic tunas) in light of the establishment 
of HMS APs, whether or not they are combined.
    Once NMFS has collected comments regarding the appropriate 
combination and/or separation of the tuna, shark, and swordfish FMPs, 
and thus of the APs, NMFS will issue a separate Federal Register 
document calling for nominations for members of the AP(s).

Tentative Schedule

    NMFS intends to establish all APs (combined or separate APs for 
Shark, Swordfish, and Tunas) by July 1, 1997.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 31, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-8567 Filed 4-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F