Proposed Rule2026-03792
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Revisions to Commercial Atlantic Blacknose and Recreational Atlantic Shark Fisheries Management Measures; Extension of Comment Period
Primary source
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Published
February 25, 2026
Effective
January 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
On January 5, 2026, NMFS published the proposed rule to revise commercial blacknose shark and recreational Atlantic shark fisheries management measures in the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) shark fisheries. In the proposed rule, NMFS announced a 60-day comment period ending on March 6, 2026. During the comment period, the Gulf Fishery Management Council, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission requested an extension of the comment to provide additional opportunities for the public to consider and comment on the proposed measures and related analyses. NMFS is extending the comment period for this action through May 29, 2026. NMFS will consider comments received on the proposed rule in determining whether and how to implement final management measures.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9237-9238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03792]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[Docket No. 251121-0173]
RIN 0648-BM88
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Revisions to Commercial
Atlantic Blacknose and Recreational Atlantic Shark Fisheries Management
Measures; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: On January 5, 2026, NMFS published the proposed rule to revise
commercial blacknose shark and recreational Atlantic shark fisheries
management measures in the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
shark fisheries. In the proposed rule, NMFS announced a 60-day comment
period ending on March 6, 2026. During the comment period, the Gulf
Fishery Management Council, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
requested an extension of the comment to provide additional
opportunities for the public to consider and comment on the proposed
measures and related analyses. NMFS is extending the comment period for
this action through May 29, 2026. NMFS will consider comments received
on the proposed rule in determining whether and how to implement final
management measures.
DATES: The proposed rule to revise commercial blacknose shark and
recreational Atlantic shark fisheries management measures was published
on January 5, 2026 (91 FR 215), and provided for public comment period
to March 6, 2026. The comment period is now extended to May 29, 2026.
Comments must be received by May 29, 2026. Comments received after this
date may not be accepted.
ADDRESSES: A plain language summary of this proposed rule is available
at: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2024-0039">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2024-0039</a>. You may
submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2024-0039, by
electronic submission. Submit all electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and type
``NOAA-NMFS-2024-0039'' in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment''
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
Additional information related to this proposed rule, including
electronic copies of the supporting documents are available from the
HMS Management Division website at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-revisions-commercial-atlantic-blacknose-and-recreational-atlantic-shark">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-revisions-commercial-atlantic-blacknose-and-recreational-atlantic-shark</a> or by contacting Guy DuBeck, see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guy DuBeck (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#86e1f3ffa8e2f3e4e3e5edc6e8e9e7e7a8e1e9f0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8deaf8f4a3e9f8efe8eee6cde3e2ececa3eae2fb">[email protected]</span></a>) or
Karyl Brewster-Geisz (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#650e04171c094b07170012161100174802000c161f250b0a04044b020a13"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e454f5c5742004c5c4b595d5a4b5c03494b475d546e40414f4f00494158">[email protected]</span></a>) at 301-427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of
Commerce, is responsible for managing Federal Atlantic HMS fisheries
(i.e., sharks, tunas, billfish and swordfish), pursuant to the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.) and consistent with the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act
(ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). The term HMS is defined at 16 U.S.C.
1802(21), and the provisions for the management of HMS are found at 16
U.S.C. 1854(g)(1). ATCA is the implementing statute for binding
recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas. NMFS manages HMS fisheries under the HMS FMP and its
amendments. HMS implementing regulations are at 50 CFR part 635.
[[Page 9238]]
NMFS released a proposed rule to revise commercial and recreational
Atlantic shark fisheries management measures on January 5, 2026 (91 FR
215). That proposed rule considers options to remove the blacknose
shark management boundary in the Atlantic region, modify the commercial
retention limit for blacknose sharks in the Atlantic region, revise the
recreational minimum size limits for Atlantic shark species, and revise
the recreational retention limits for Atlantic shark species. That
proposed rule would also remove commercial management group quota
linkages, consistent with Amendment 14, and make technical changes to
clarify certain HMS regulations.
NMFS has received requests from several groups to extend the
comment period and discuss this rulemaking during upcoming meetings.
During a hearing webinar on January 22, 2026, which included an
opportunity for commenting on the proposed rule, commenters expressed
concern regarding changing the recreational bag limit for Atlantic
sharpnose and bonnethead sharks from one per person per trip to one per
vessel per trip. Due to those concerns, the Gulf Fishery Management
Council (Gulf Council) requested an extension of the comment period.
Specifically, the Gulf Council indicated that those species are
abundant and the proposed change is not related to any recent stock
assessment that would warrant a decrease in harvest. The Gulf Council
requested additional time to understand the rationale for the proposed
changes and requested a presentation from the HMS Management Division
at the April 2026 Council meeting. Similarly, the Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) requested a presentation for their
Coastal Shark Board at their May 2026 Commission meeting. In addition,
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission requested an
extension of the comment period until after the HMS Advisory Panel
meeting through the end of May 2026.
After considering the requests, NMFS has determined that it is
reasonable to extend the comment period to enable NMFS staff to present
at the Gulf Council, ASMFC, and HMS Advisory Panel meetings, and to
allow additional opportunities for public comment. Therefore, NMFS is
extending the comment period through May 29, 2026. This revised comment
period allows time for Council and Commission members, the regulated
community, and the general public to further consider the rulemaking
documents, and the analyses, data, and conclusions relevant to the
proposed management measures in them, and to provide comments to NMFS.
NMFS will consider these comments in determining which final management
measures to implement.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 19, 2026.
Sarah Malloy,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-03792 Filed 2-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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