Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Revisions to Fishing Gear Regulations

What it does

NMFS is proposing regulatory revisions to fishing gear requirements in fisheries targeting Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) to increase flexibility and remove inefficiencies, thus increasing fishing opportunities and the ability of HMS fisheries to achieve optimum yield. Specifically, NMFS is proposing changes to buoy gear regulations that include modifying gear deployment and retrieval requirements, authorizing this gear under additional permits, and allowing the retention of additional species. NMFS is also proposing changes to speargun fishing gear regulations that include authorizing this gear under additional permits and targeting additional species. Finally, NMFS is proposing overarching changes regarding gear used for the collection of bait in all HMS fisheries.

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-BN52 since Jan. 1, 2025.

What happens next and when

Written comments must be received by October 13, 2026. NMFS will hold two public hearing webinars on August 31, 2026 from 1 to 3 p.m. ET and October 1, 2026 from 1 to 3 p.m. ET. For additional details on the public hearings, 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-2024-0050 on Regulations.gov
• Title 50 on eCFR

The record as published

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