NOAA Fisheries requests comments on a proposed rule to revise fishing gear regulations in Atlantic highly migratory species fisheries.
Proposed Gear Revisions:
Buoy gear: Authorize power assistance for gear deployment and retrieval, the use of this gear under additional permits (Swordfish General Commercial permit; some tunas and shark permits), and the retention of additional species (some tunas and sharks).
Speargun fishing gear: Authorize this gear to retain and sell bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas under some commercial permits.
Bait collection gear: Allow the possession and use of small nets and other gear commonly used for bait collection (e.g., cast nets and small dipnets) on board highly migratory species fishing vessels, provided the gear is too small and/or too weak to capture highly migratory species.
Who is affected?
- Any commercial fisher in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of America and U.S. Caribbean.
- Any dealer who buys or sells Atlantic highly migratory species or products.
Comments
NOAA Fisheries is accepting public comments through October 13, 2026.
Public Hearing Webinar Schedule
NOAA Fisheries will hold two public hearings via webinar:
- August 31, 2026 from 1 – 3 pm ET
- October 1, 2026 from 1 – 3 pm ET
You can register for webinars at our website.
Please direct requests for in-person public hearings to Becky Curtis at becky.curtis@noaa.gov or by phone at 301-427-8503.