Definition of Shellfish; Inclusion of Cephalopods

What it does

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to amend the definition of "shellfish" in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) by removing the phrase "having a shell" and adding specific taxa. This amendment would clarify that squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and other cephalopods are included within the regulatory definition of shellfish. This action is deregulatory in nature, as it reduces regulatory ambiguity, aligns the Service's regulations with current biological understanding and commercial practice, reduces regulatory burden and is within the Service's purview to amend definitions as needed.

The Fish and Wildlife Service's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What it would change

1 part of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

50 CFR 10

Before this

No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 1018-BJ16 since Jan. 1, 2025.

Since then:

• June 23, 2026 Final rule. Definition of Shellfish; Inclusion of Cephalopods

What happens next and when

We will consider comments received or postmarked on or before April 6, 2026. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the closing date.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket FWS-HQ-LE-2026-0628 on Regulations.gov
• Title 50 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register