PROPOSED RULE TO MODIFY NORTH ATLANTIC SWORDFISH AND SHARK RETENTION LIMITS FOR CERTAIN PERMIT HOLDERS AND ADD INSEASON ADJUSTMENT AUTHORIZATION CRITERIA

This Draft Environmental Assessment analyzes the potential environmental impacts of several alternatives that could increase the flexibility of and provide consistency between the swordfish retention limits for commercial swordfish fishermen fishing with similar gears within U.S. Atlantic and Caribbean waters; adjust shark retention limits and change regulatory procedures for commercial shark fishermen in the U.S. Caribbean; and increase administrative efficiencies by managing the swordfish fishery in two regions with one action as needed (i.e., inseason adjustment). The goal is to improve efficacy of management while also avoiding overharvests in these fisheries. Specifically, this action considers modifying the swordfish and shark retention limits and adding regulatory criteria for inseason adjustment of those swordfish and shark retention limits for certain permit holders. This proposed action would also streamline Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) regulations to align swordfish retention limits for commercial swordfish permits established for HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit holders under Amendment 4 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan with those established in Amendment 8 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan for Swordfish General Commercial permit holders and HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders.