
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 Amended through 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 June 14, 2023
- Highly Migratory Species Exempted Fishing Permit applications for 2023
- Highly Migratory Species Management Team to hold online meeting May 1-2, 2023
- Highly Migratory Species Management Team to hold online meeting March 27, 2023
- Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fisheries: Authorization of Deep-set Buoy Gear
- Notice of availability for HMS FMP Amendment 6 Authorizing Deep-set Buoy Gear
- Highly Migratory Species Management Team to hold online meeting January 10, 2023
- Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel to hold online meeting October 24, 2022
Actions in Progress
- No current items
Upcoming Council Meeting
June Council meeting
Vancouver, WA
Hilton Vancouver Washington 301 W. Sixth Street Vancouver, WA 98660 USA Phone: 360-993-4500
