Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Amendment 13

NMFS announces its intent to prepare a draft EIS to assess the potential effects of alternative measures under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) for management of bluefin tuna fisheries. This notice announces a public process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues relating to the management of western Atlantic bluefin fisheries, both commercial and recreational, incidental and directed. Further, the process will determine if existing measures are the best means of achieving current management objectives. Potential management options/modifications include, but are not limited to the following: Refining the Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) Program, phasing out or otherwise modifying the Purse Seine fishery for bluefin tuna, and other regulatory provisions regarding the directed and incidental bluefin tuna fisheries, including bluefin tuna quota allocations. This action would respond to the information in the “Three-Year Review of the IBQ Program” (the formal review of the catch share program), recent changes in the bluefin tuna fishery, and advice and input from the Atlantic HMS Advisory Panel and consideration of public comment and input. NMFS would use the scoping process and the draft EIS to develop a regulatory amendment applicable to the bluefin fisheries. The scoping process and draft EIS are intended to determine if the suite of existing measures are the best means of achieving the current management objectives and providing flexibility to adapt to fishing variability in the future, consistent with the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and other relevant Federal laws. NMFS is also announcing the availability of a scoping document describing potential measures for inclusion in a future regulatory amendment. NMFS will hold scoping meetings to gather public comment on potential management options for bluefin management. NMFS is requesting comments on this NOI and the management of bluefin, which includes management options that are described in the scoping document, and relevant options that would meet the purpose and need for this action.