Definition of Shellfish; Inclusion of Cephalopods
Built by the Tribune's code from the Federal Register. No AI wrote this page. Published in the Federal Register June 23, 2026. Document 2026-12578. Updated Nov. 9, 2026.
- What it does
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are amending the definition of "shellfish" in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) by removing the phrase "having a shell" and adding specific taxa. This amendment will 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 changed in the regulation
1 part of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).
- Compared with
The Fish and Wildlife Service has published 29 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 13 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.
- Before this
1 earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 1018-BJ16 since Jan. 1, 2025.
- What happens next and when
This rule is effective July 23, 2026.
The agency's dates, word for word.
The record as published
| Document number | 2026-12578 |
|---|---|
| Action | Final rule. |
| Agencies | Interior Department; Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Published | June 23, 2026 |
| Effective date | July 23, 2026 |
| Regulation identifier (RIN) | 1018-BJ16 |
| Docket | FWS-HQ-LE-2026-0628 |
Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register