# 2025-24264: New Rules for Catching Atlantic Sharks: Bite-Sized Changes Ahead 2025-24264, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Revisions to Commercial Atlantic Blacknose and Recreational Atlantic Shark Fisheries Management Measures, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-01-05, effective 2026-01-05 (as of 2026-06-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-24264 - As of: 2026-06-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2025-24264 - Title: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Revisions to Commercial Atlantic Blacknose and Recreational Atlantic Shark Fisheries Management Measures - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Citation: 91 FR 215 - Published: 2026-01-05 - Effective: 2026-01-05 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: no - Regulation identifier numbers: 0648-BM88 - Last updated: 2026-06-11 ## In one line New Rules for Catching Atlantic Sharks: Bite-Sized Changes Ahead ## Summary The government is proposing new rules for people who fish for Atlantic blacknose and other sharks, both commercially and for fun. They want to change size and catch limits, remove some complicated rules, and make it easier to manage shark fishing. These changes aim to help fishermen catch sharks responsibly while keeping the shark populations healthy, with comments open until March 6, 2026. ## Abstract NMFS is proposing several changes for commercial and recreational Atlantic shark fisheries. Specifically, NMFS is considering 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. In this action, NMFS would also remove commercial management group quota linkages, consistent with Amendment 14 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and make technical changes to clarify certain HMS regulations. This action is responsive to the framework for implementing management measures established in Amendment 14, findings from the Atlantic Shark Fishery Review (SHARE) document, public comments from scoping for Amendment 16 to the HMS FMP, and recent domestic laws and international agreements that are having direct and indirect impacts on shark fisheries. The goal of this action is to increase management flexibility to react to changes in the Atlantic shark fisheries and optimize the ability of the commercial and recreational shark fisheries to harvest quota to the extent practicable. ## Effects PRIA read - Remove Atlantic blacknose boundary: benefit, medium. If you hold a Directed or Incidental shark Limited Access Permit (LAP), the rule would remove the blacknose shark management boundary at latitude 34°00' N so you could commercially harvest blacknose sharks throughout the entire Atlantic region instead of only south of lat. 34°00' N. NMFS says this… - Flexible commercial blacknose limits 0–60: benefit, high. If you fish commercially with a Directed shark LAP in the Atlantic region, the rule would set a flexible per-vessel-per-trip blacknose shark limit ranging from 0 to 60, with a default of 25 at the start of each fishing year (current fixed limit is 8). NMFS explains the default 25 and 60 maximum are… - New grouped recreational size limits: mixed, medium. If you fish for sharks recreationally, NMFS would group species and set recreational minimum size limit ranges for each group, with defaults based on midpoints of female sizes at maturity or current rules. For example, blacknose/finetooth would have a default of 38 inches FL (range up to 54 inches)… - Flexible recreational retention limits: mixed, medium. If you fish recreationally for sharks, NMFS would set flexible per-vessel-per-trip retention ranges by species group and new defaults. For example, many species would default to 1 shark per vessel per trip with ranges like 1–3 (blacknose, blue, bull, etc.), Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead default… - Remove commercial quota linkages: benefit, medium. NMFS would remove commercial management group quota linkages so each shark management group or species' quota can be used independently; once that group's ACL is reached, NMFS would close that specific fishery. NMFS says this is intended to keep fisheries open longer and help each quota be fully ut… ## Related documents - [2026-14204](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14204): Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date, 2026-07-15 - [2026-14195](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14195): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2026-07-14 - [2026-07536](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07536): Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of America, 2026-04-17 - [2026-05599](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-05599): Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period…, 2026-03-23 - [2026-04256](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04256): Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fi…, 2026-03-04 - [2025-06746](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06746): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2025-04-17 ## Sources - [2025-24264 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/05/2025-24264/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-revisions-to-commercial-atlantic-blacknose-and-recreational) - [2025-24264 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-05/pdf/2025-24264.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2025-24233, Airworthiness Directives; General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH (Type Certificat…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-24233) - [Next: 2025-24272, Restoring Flexibility in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-24272) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-24264 (as of 2026-06-11).