NOAA Fisheries announces a schedule of public hearings on a proposed rule to modify pelagic longline bluefin tuna area-based and weak hook management measures.
This action outlines the proposed regulatory changes that would occur under the preferred alternatives provided below. These and other alternatives were analyzed in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement released on May 10, 2019 and would affect the HMS pelagic longline fishery in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
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Northeastern United States Closed Area |
Alternative A4 Undertake a review process to evaluate the continued need for the Northeastern United States Pelagic Longline Closed Area. |
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Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area |
Alternative B2 Elimination of the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area. |
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Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Areas |
Alternative C3 Undertake a review process to evaluate the continued need for the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Areas. |
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Weak Hooks |
Alternative D2 Seasonal requirement for weak hooks (January–June). |
Meeting Schedule
In-Person Hearings
July 16, 2019, 5–7 p.m.
National Marine Fisheries Service
Greater Atlantic Regional Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
July 24, 2019, 5–8 p.m.
Terrebonne Parish Library (Main Branch)
151 Library Dr
Houma, LA 70360
July 30, 2019, 5–8 p.m.
Ocean County Library, Toms River Branch
101 Washington Street
Toms River, NJ 08753
August 13, 2019, 5–7 p.m.
Dare County Administration Building
954 Marshall Collins Dr. Commissioners Meeting Room
Manteo, NC 27954
Conference Call Hearings
July 19, 2019, 2–4 p.m.
Phone: 888-989-7692
Passcode: 2664906
Webinar: RSVP at https://noaanmfs-events2.webex.com/noaanmfs-events2/onstage/g.php?MTID=e8963997f0720f8ca85ee2fb56b726f19 to receive login information.
July 31, 2019, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Phone: 888-946-2707
Passcode: 3542964
Webinar: RSVP at https://noaanmfs-events2.webex.com/noaanmfs-events2/onstage/g.php?MTID=ed3603a85564cf407b17a8f31bd261c26 to receive login information.
Public Comments
Written comments, identified by “NOAA-NMFS-2018-0035,” may be submitted electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal or sent by mail to:
Highly Migratory Species Management Division
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
All comments received are a part of the public record and generally will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
We will accept anonymous comments—enter "N/A" in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous. You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
