NMFS Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel (May 2010)

CONCUR facilitated the May 2010 meeting of the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel, an advisory group convened twice yearly by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The three-day meeting, held in Silver Spring, Maryland, brought together nearly 40 commercial and recreational fishermen and industry representatives, environmentalists, academics, state officials and others. The primary purposes of the meeting were to (1) discuss management measures in Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS fisheries management plan for small coastal, shortfin mako and smoothhound sharks, and (2) conduct working group sessions regarding Atlantic bluefin tuna and sharks.

Other meeting objectives included discussions related to swordfish buoy gear fishery management, billfish and vessel monitoring system issues. The meeting, a mix of plenary session and targeted working groups, also included several opportunities for Panel members to discuss concerns related to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Eric Schwaab, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, also addressed the group. The Panel’s deliberations were facilitated by CONCUR Principal Scott McCreary and Senior Associate Bennett Brooks.