Highly migratory species
“Highly migratory species” include tuna, some shark species, and billfish—species that range widely through the ocean, often crossing international borders. These pelagic species live in the water of the open ocean, although they may spend part of their life cycle in nearshore waters.
Highly migratory species are harvested by U.S. commercial and recreational fishers and by foreign fishing fleets. Only a small fraction of the total harvest is taken within U.S. waters.
Key Documents
- Fishery Management Plan for West Coast Fisheries For Highly Migratory Species as Amended by Amendment 7
- Pacific Fishery Management Council Pacific Coast Swordfish Fishery Management and Monitoring Plan
- Description of control dates in groundfish and other Council managed fisheries
- Biological Opinion on the continued management of the drift gillnet fishery under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species
- HMS FMP Appendix F: U.S. West Coast Highly Migratory Species Life History Accounts and Essential Fish Habitat (FEIS Appendix A)
- HMS FMP Appendix C: Bycatch in HMS Fisheries (FEIS Chapter 5)
News & events
- Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel to hold online meeting October 24, 2022
- Space is still available – Marine Resource Education Program workshop series (2022-2023)
- Marine Resource Education Program workshop series (2022-2023)
- Highly Migratory Species Management Team to hold meeting October 12-14, 2022
- Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel to hold online meeting August 31, 2022
- NMFS Draft Equity & Environmental Justice Strategy online meeting August 19, 2022
- Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel to hold online meeting June 2, 2022
- Highly Migratory Species Management Team continues online meeting April 29, 2022
Actions in Progress
Upcoming Council Meeting
November Council meeting
Orange County, CA
Hyatt Regency Orange County 11999 Harbor Blvd. Garden Grove, CA 92840 Phone: 714-750-1234
