NOAA holding meeting in N.C. on swordfish, bluefin tuna fishing

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service will hold several meetings this summer to talk about potentially changing fishing for bluefin tuna and swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean.

One of the five meetings will be held June 25 at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo, N.C., according to a NOAA news release.

The fisheries service wants to hear from the public about new ways to govern fishing of the two species, the release says.

The meetings will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., the release says. The public will be able to view information about the issues, ask questions and hear a presentation that will be followed by a public comment period.

The public can send comments on the issue to NOAA on bluefin tuna issues until June 30, the release says. The agency will take comments on swordfish and other issues until Aug. 31.

Other meetings are being held in Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts and New Jersey, the release says.

For more information, visit the agency's site at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/