Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Longline Fisheries

NMFS revises the emergency regulations governing the Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries that require all vessels issued an Atlantic HMS permit to post in their wheelhouses NMFS- supplied sea turtle handling and release guidelines for pelagic longline gear to require that only such vessels fishing for Atlantic HMS that have pelagic or bottom longline gear on board post the guidelines. This revision is needed to make the regulations consistent with an August 31, 2001 revision to a term and condition of the reasonable and prudent measure identified in the incidental take statement accompanying the June 14,2001 Biological Opinion on the Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan and its associated fisheries. The intent of this revision is to remove the requirement that non-longline vessels post sea turtle handling and release guidelines that are specific to longline gear.