NMFS will hold a public conference call to discuss progress on current goals and objectives in the 2011 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Recreational Fishing Action Agenda and potential updates to the Agenda. The 2011 Atlantic HMS Recreational Fishing Action Agenda was developed as part of a national effort to provide a comprehensive perspective of our efforts relating to recreational fisheries.
An operator-assisted, public conference call and webinar will be held on May 15, 2013, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., EDT.
ADDRESSES: The conference call information is phone number 800-857-5085; participant pass code 1116226. We will also show a brief presentation via webinar. RSVP at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/253309785. A confirmation email with webinar log-in information will be sent after your RSVP has been registered. The presentation and any supporting information will be posted on the HMS Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clifford Hutt at 301-427-8503; Brad McHale at (978) 281-9139; or Randy Blankenship at (727) 824-5313.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of Commerce manages Atlantic
HMS, including Atlantic tunas, sharks, billfish, and swordfish, and has
delegated that authority to NMFS. Atlantic HMS are managed under the
dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Reauthorization Act (MSA) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention
Act (ATCA). Management of HMS requires international cooperation given
the migratory nature of the species.
In December 2011, as part of a national effort to provide a
comprehensive perspective of our efforts relating to recreational
fisheries, we released the 2011 Atlantic HMS Recreational Fishing
Action Agenda to serve as a publicly available roadmap detailing
priorities and objectives for addressing recreational fishing issues.
Development of the 2011 Atlantic HMS Recreational Fishing Action Agenda
included input from the Atlantic HMS Advisory Panel and the Marine
Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) Recreational Fisheries Working
Group. The 2011 Atlantic HMS Recreational Fishing Action Agenda is
available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/rec/12-0611_rec_action_agenda_atlantic_hms.pdf.
On May 15, 2013, we will hold a public conference call and webinar
to discuss updating the 2011 Atlantic HMS Recreational Fishing Action
Agenda. The purpose of this call is to report on our progress toward
achieving the goals and objectives laid out in the original action
agenda, and to discuss potential revisions to the plan. Additionally,
we will discuss efforts to improve HMS recreational fishing
opportunities, recreational catch and effort data, social and economic
data on recreational fisheries, and communication with recreational
constituents.
The call will start with a presentation, which participants and
interested parties can follow via webinar, that will cover an overview
of the current HMS Recreational Fishing Action Agenda, and our progress
towards accomplishing the objectives listed therein. The presentation
will be followed by a discussion among members of the HMS Advisory
Panel, the MAFAC Recreational Fisheries Working Group, recreational
constituents, academics researching HMS fisheries, non-governmental
organizations interested in HMS recreational fishing issues, and
members of the public.