Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North Atlantic Swordfish Fishery

NMFS is adjusting the Swordfish (SWO) General Commercial permit retention limits for the Northwest Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. Caribbean regions for July through December of the 2018 fishing year, unless otherwise later noticed. The SWO General Commercial permit retention limit in each of these regions is increased from the regulatory default limits (either two or three fish) to six swordfish per vessel per trip. The SWO General Commercial permit retention limit in the Florida SWO Management Area will remain unchanged at the default limit of zero swordfish per vessel per trip, as discussed in more detail below. These adjustments apply to SWO General Commercial permitted vessels and to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/ Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial endorsement when on a non- for-hire trip. This action is based upon consideration of the applicable inseason regional retention limit adjustment criteria.