Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Pelagic and Demersal Indicator Species Regulations

What it does

NMFS is proposing changes to regulations regarding pelagic and demersal indicator species in the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) pelagic and bottom longline fisheries. Specifically, NMFS is proposing to remove the regulations regarding pelagic and demersal indicator species and the list of pelagic and demersal indicator species from the HMS regulations. These proposed changes would directly impact pelagic and bottom longline fishermen who hold Atlantic HMS fishing permits. The purpose of this action is to increase fishing flexibilities, remove regulatory inefficiencies, and optimize the ability of pelagic and bottom longline fisheries to harvest available quotas to the extent practicable while still achieving fishery management and conservation goals.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration'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 635

Before this

No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 0648-BN27 since Jan. 1, 2025.

What happens next and when

Written comments must be received by May 29, 2026. NMFS will hold a public hearing webinar on May 21, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. For additional details on the public hearing, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket NOAA-NMFS-2025-0669 on Regulations.gov
• Title 50 on eCFR

The record as published

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