Highly Migratory Species 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan Amendment 8 Us National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Regulation Noaa 2018 Edition PDF Download

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.