In 1999, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) determined that a Fishery Management Plan for Highly Migratory Species Fisheries off the West Coast (HMS FMP) should be prepared. Highly migratory species in the Pacific Ocean include tunas, swordfish, marlin, and blue, mako, and thresher sharks. The HMS FMP will be prepared as ajoint fisheries management plan (FMP) and Environmental Impact Statement. When completed, the FMP will have to meet the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable laws (e.g.. Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act). During the development of the FMP, interested parties including commercial and recreational fishers, related industries, non-governmental organizations, and governmental agencies at all levels will have significant opportunities for input.

NMFS has prepared extensive documentation on the information and analyses that must be contained in fishery management plans and associated documents. A set of "Operational Guidelines" has been prepared that provides information on the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as well as the many other laws and administrative orders that apply to development of Federal regulations through the fishery management planning process. Briefly summarized, a FMP should present:

• current information about the fish stocks and the fisheries that target them
• identification of problems and issues to be analyzed
• identification of alternative means to resolve problems
• analysis of the biological, ecological, economic and social impacts or implications of alternative actions
• rationale for the selection of the proposed actions

It is intended that the information and analyses be clear and objective. An FMP is supposed to be based on the best scientific information available. It is important to identic both the nature and magnitude of impacts and the distribution of those impacts. It also is important that both short- and long-term perspectives be considered with an assessment of the irretrievable commitments of resources that might be associated with different courses of action. Further, the planning process must be open, and the final rule (if any is called for) must demonstrate that public comments have been considered in the final decision.

"The draft FMP is scheduled for review by the Council in March 2001. The public is encouraged to attend the March Council meeting as this will be a prime opportunity to provide comments before the Council directs the Highly Migratory Species Plan Development Team on how to proceed in finalizing the contents, scope, and framework management process of the FMP. The Council is scheduled to finalize a draft for public review at the April meeting. Final adoption of a completed FMP is scheduled for the September meeting, subsequent to a series of summer public meetings. Shark taggers interested in following the preparation of the FMP should contact the PFMC through their wep page www.pcouncil.org.