# 2026-07294: Tope Sharks in Africa and Atlantic Face Threatened Status Proposal

2026-07294, Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of 12-Month Findings on a Petition To List the Tope Shark as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act and Proposed Listing of Two Distinct Population Segments of Tope Shark as Threatened, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-04-15, effective Comments on this proposed rule must be received by June 15, 2026. Public hearing requests must be made by June 1, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07294
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-07294
- Title: Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of 12-Month Findings on a Petition To List the Tope Shark as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act and Proposed Listing of Two Distinct Population Segments of Tope Shark as Threatened
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 20260
- Published: 2026-04-15
- Effective: Comments on this proposed rule must be received by June 15, 2026. Public hearing requests must be made by June 1, 2026.
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Tope Sharks in Africa and Atlantic Face Threatened Status Proposal

## Summary

NOAA reviewed the tope shark and found it has six groups. Two groups—off Southern Africa and the Southwest Atlantic—are at risk and may be listed as threatened soon. This could affect fishing rules and conservation efforts, with public comments open until June 15, 2026.

## Abstract

We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review of the tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) in response to a petition to list the species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. After reviewing the best scientific and commercial data available, we have determined that this species is comprised of six distinct population segments (DPSs) and that two, the Southern (So.) Africa and Southwest (SW) Atlantic DPSs, are likely to become in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges in the foreseeable future. Therefore, we propose to list the So. Africa and SW Atlantic DPSs as threatened species under the ESA. We have also determined that the remaining four DPSs--the Northeast (NE) Atlantic, NE Pacific, SW Pacific, and Southeast (SE) Pacific DPSs--do not meet the definition of a threatened or endangered species under section 4(a) of the ESA and therefore do not warrant listing under the ESA. We solicit information to inform the final listing determinations.

## Effects PRIA read

- Two Tope Shark Groups Proposed Threatened: cost, medium. NOAA proposes to list two distinct tope shark population segments as threatened under the Endangered Species Act: the Southern Africa DPS (Namibia to East London, South Africa) and the Southwest Atlantic DPS (southern Brazil to Patagonia). The proposal opens a public comment period that ends June 1…
- Four Tope Shark Groups Not Listed: benefit, low. NOAA determined that four other tope shark population segments do not meet the definition of threatened or endangered under the ESA: the Northeast Atlantic, Northeast Pacific, Southwest Pacific, and Southeast Pacific DPSs. Those four DPSs are not proposed for ESA listing in this action.
- Petition Asked For 4(d) and 4(e) Protections: cost, low. The petitioners asked NMFS to adopt a protective regulation under ESA section 4(d) if the tope shark or any DPS is listed as threatened, and to adopt a section 4(e) rule for species similar in appearance to the tope shark. Those requests are part of the record being considered in this proposed acti…

## 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
- [2026-07294 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/15/2026-07294/endangered-and-threatened-species-notice-of-12-month-findings-on-a-petition-to-list-the-tope-shark)
- [2026-07294 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-15/pdf/2026-07294.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-07292, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Cook Inlet; Proposed 2026…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07292)
- [Next: 2026-07297, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07297)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07294 (as of 2026-06-11).