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Study Releases Findings on Economic Impact of HMS Charter Fleets

For-hire HMS operations along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts generated $51 million in economic output in 2013

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently released a study on the economic output generated by the for-hire Highly Migratory Species (HMS) fleet along the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico, excluding Texas. The study estimated a total of 9,449 trips taken between July and November 2013 by the 3,968 licensed Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders in these two regions. The study found charter operations targeted pelagic species 68 percent of the time, mainly pursuing yellowfin tuna, swordfish and marlin. Overall, the $19 million spent directly on HMS for-hire ­charter operations generated roughly $51 million in economic output for local economies along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts.

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