30382 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 102 / Tuesday, May 27, 2008 / Notices 

Comments on Amendment 4 to the 

Consolidated HMS FMP.’’ Comments 

can also be submitted via email at 

noi.hms.caribbean@noaa.gov, or via fax 

at (727) 824–5398. Include in the subject 

line of the email or fax comment the 

following document identifier: NOI 

HMS Caribbean. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Russell Dunn or Greg Fairclough by 

phone:(727) 824–5399, or by fax: (727) 

824–5398. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Atlantic shark fisheries are managed 

under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Act, and the Atlantic tuna, 

swordfish, and billfish fisheries are 

managed under the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act and ATCA. The Consolidated HMS 

FMP is implemented by regulations at 

50 CFR part 635. Copies of the 

Consolidated HMS FMP are available 

from NMFS on request. 

Background 

The 1999 Fishery Management Plan 

for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks (1999 FMP) established a LAP 

program for the commercial Atlantic 

swordfish and shark fisheries to begin to 

rationalize harvesting capacity with the 

available quota and reduce latent effort 

while preventing further 

overcapitalization. To assist with 

enforcement and management of the 

program, permit restrictions were also 

placed on vessels fishing for bigeye, 

albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack 

(BAYS) tunas. Implementation of the 

HMS LAP program has been ongoing 

since the implementation of the 1999 

FMP and is executed via issuance of 

permits to eligible recipients in the 

commercial shark, swordfish, and BAYS 

fisheries. Currently many eligible 

vessels may be required to obtain up to 

three separate LAPs to fish for, or retain, 

HMS. Since implementation, HMS LAPs 

have continued to increase in value. 

Limited availability and high LAP costs 

may present a significant barrier to entry 

into some segments of the HMS 

fisheries. 

There are substantial differences 

between some segments of the U.S. 

Caribbean HMS fisheries and the HMS 

fisheries that occur off of the mainland 

United States including, but not limited 

to: limited fishing and dealer permit 

possession; smaller vessels; shorter 

trips; limited profit margins; and high 

local consumption of catches. These 

differences can create an awkward fit 

between the current regulations and the 

operational realities of Caribbean 

fisheries. NMFS has benefitted from 

receiving various recommendations to 

improve management of the HMS 

permitting program and U.S. Caribbean 

HMS fisheries from the Caribbean 

Fishery Management Council, territorial 

governments, and local fishermen. Some 

suggestions on U.S. Caribbean HMS 

fisheries received to date include, but 

are not limited to: creating a commercial 

Caribbean HMS permit (valid for sharks, 

tunas, and swordfish); combining 

Caribbean vessel and dealer permits 

(allowing vessels to sell catch); and 

modifying authorized gears (authorizing 

buoy gear in the Caribbean BAYS tuna 

fishery and allowing the possession of 

reef fish traps). 

Based on discussions with the 

Caribbean Fishery Management Council 

and the territorial governments, NMFS 

believes that the depletion of 

continental shelf fishery resources may 

be increasing local interest in HMS 

resources. As local fishermen become 

more dependent on offshore fishery 

resources and increase fishing effort on 

HMS, there is an increased need for 

NMFS to modify the current HMS 

permitting and reporting regime to 

include small commercial Caribbean 

vessels and better collect catch and 

effort data. 

Management Options 

NMFS requests comments on 

management options for this action. 

Specifically, NMFS requests comments 

on the following issues and possible 

options: creating a small commercial 

vessel Caribbean HMS permit (valid for 

sharks, tunas, and swordfish); 

combining commercial Caribbean vessel 

and dealer permits (allowing vessels to 

sell/retail catch); modifying authorized 

gears (authorizing buoy gear in the 

Caribbean BAYS tuna fishery and 

allowing the possession of reef fish 

traps); and developing methods to 

improve reporting and data collection. 

NMFS also requests comment on any 

other fishery management issue 

pertaining to Caribbean HMS fisheries 

which the public believes should be 

further examined by NMFS. 

NMFS intends to publish an issues 

and options document summarizing the 

different options under consideration 

and will announce the availability of 

this document at a later date. NMFS will 

hold at least one scoping meeting to 

gather public comment on the issues 

and options described here and in the 

forthcoming issues and options 

document (time and location details of 

which will be announced in a 

subsequent Federal Register 

notification). 

After scoping has been completed and 

public comment gathered and analyzed, 

NMFS will proceed with preparation of 

a draft EIS and proposed rule, which 

will include additional opportunities for 

public comment. Until the EIS and 

associated documents are finalized or 

until other regulations are put into 

place, the current regulations remain in 

effect. 

Dated: May 19, 2008. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–11779 Filed 5–23–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING 

COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Meetings 

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: 

Commodity Futures Trading 

Commission. 

TIME AND DATE: 1 p.m., Thursday, June 

5, 2008. 

PLACE: 1155 21st St., NW., Washington, 

DC, 9th Floor Commission Conference 

Room. 

STATUS: Closed. 

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 

Enforcement Matters. 

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Sauntia S. Warfield, 202–418–5084. 

David A. Stawick, 

Secretary of the Commission. 

[FR Doc. 08–1289 Filed 5–22–08; 11:35 am] 

BILLING CODE 6351–01–P 

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING 

COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Meetings 

TIME AND DATE: 11 a.m., Wednesday, 

June 11, 2008. 

PLACE: 1155 21st St., NW., Washington, 

DC, 9th Floor Commission Conference 

Room. 

STATUS: Closed. 

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Risk 

Surveillance. 

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Sauntia S. Warfield, 202–418–5084. 

David A. Stawick, 

Secretary of the Commission. 

[FR Doc. 08–1291 Filed 5–22–08; 11:35 am] 

BILLING CODE 6351–01–P 

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING 

COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Meetings 

TIME AND DATE: 11 a.m., Friday, June 27, 

2008. 


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