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. Local meeting will be July 24, 2019, 5–8 p.m., at the Terrebonne Parish Library (Main Branch), 151 Library Dr, Houma, LA 70360.
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.
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.
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.
