Final Amendment 9 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Final Amendment 9 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan

Author: LeAnn Hogan

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 162

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Final Amendment 9 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan establishes smoothhound shark annual quotas based on recent stock assessments, implements the smoothhound shark-specific requirements of the 2012 Shark Biological Opinion, and modifies current regulations related to the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems by Atlantic shark fishermen using gillnet gear. Except for certain Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-348) (SCA) provisions, which apply only to smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis), the management measures in Final Amendment 9 address "smoothhound sharks," which for purposes of this Amendment include smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis), Florida smoothhound (M. sinusmexicanus), and Gulf smoothhound (M. norrisi). The Final Amendment also implements the smooth dogfish-specific provisions in the SCA. The SCA requires that all sharks landed in the United States be landed with their fins and tail naturally attached to the carcass but includes a limited exception for smooth dogfish. For the federal Atlantic shark fisheries, current regulations already require all sharks to be landed with all fins naturally attached to the carcass, and the SCA's fins-attached requirement is being implemented nationwide through a separate ongoing rulemaking. Thus, this Final Amendment addresses only the provision contained in the SCA that allows at-sea fin removal of Atlantic smooth dogfish. The action will also establish an effective date for previously-adopted shark management measures finalized in Amendment 3 to the 2006 consolidated HMS FMP and the 2011 HMS Trawl Rule, although those measures were not developed through the Amendment 9 process.

Final Amendment 3 to the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan, Including a Final Environmental Impact Statement, a Final Regulatory Impact Review, a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, a Final Social Impact Analysis
Final Amendment 3 to the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan, Including a Final Environmental Impact Statement, a Final Regulatory Impact Review, a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, a Final Social Impact Analysis

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is amending the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) based on several stock assessments that were completed in 2007 and 2008. After considering comments received during scoping and on a Predraft document, NMFS released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and proposed rule on July 24, 2009 (74 FR 36706 and 74 FR 36892). The DEIS and proposed rule considered measures to reduce fishing mortality and effort in order to rebuild overfished Atlantic shark species while ensuring that a limited shark fishery could be maintained. Additionally, NMFS proposed adding smooth dogfish under NMFS management due to growing concerns regarding the status of this unmanaged species. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) describes a range of alternatives that could impact shark fishermen and dealers including modifying commercial quotas, modifying commercial gear restrictions, establishing a rebuilding plan for overfished stocks, establishing measures to prevent overfishing, modifying recreational measures, and establishing management measures for smooth dogfish"--Abstract.