Highly Migratory Species: Current Season Management
The Council considers new management measures for West Coast highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries, or revisions to current measures, on a two-year (biennial) cycle. According to the HMS fishery management plan (FMP), the Council determines what changes are necessary at their June meeting. Proposals are then considered at the September Council meeting, and final action occurs at the November Council meeting. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) then implements Council recommended management measures through the Federal regulatory process. Any such measures become effective at the start of the next fishing year, April 1 of the following year, or when the rulemaking process is complete, and stay in effect for at least two years unless emergency action is taken to modify the action. Council meetings in 2006 initiated the first biennial management cycle under the HMS FMP with consideration of measures to be implemented during the April 1, 2007-March 31, 2009, biennium. In 2008 the Council considered management changes for the second biennial period, April 1, 2009-March 31, 2011.
