# 2026-18627: Maine Center Tests Rule-Breaking Fishing Techniques via Permit

2026-18627, Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, is a Federal Register notice from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-09-14, effective 2026-10-01; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18627
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-18627
- Title: Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 58097
- Published: 2026-09-14
- Effective: 2026-10-01
- Comments close: 2026-09-29
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-09-21

## In one line

Maine Center Tests Rule-Breaking Fishing Techniques via Permit

## Summary

Fishing boats with federal permits might get special permission to try new fishing methods that don’t follow some usual rules, thanks to a request from the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries. This chance lets them test out ideas to help manage fish better, but folks have until September 29, 2026, to share their thoughts. If approved, it could change how some fish are caught without extra costs right now.

## Abstract

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.

## Effects PRIA read

- EFP authorizes 2-vessel EGOM research survey: benefit, low. If you operate a federally permitted fishing vessel in eastern Maine, this Exempted Fishing Permit would allow 2 vessels to run an Eastern Gulf of Maine (EGOM) Sentinel Survey from October 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. The project would run 15 one-day trips (up to 40 sets per trip, up to 450 se…
- Temporary permit exemptions for sampling: benefit, low. The EFP would exempt participating vessels from permit rules in 50 CFR 648.4(a)(1) and 648.4(a)(5)(iii) so that a lobster-permitted vessel can temporarily possess Atlantic cod and pollock for biological sampling and participating vessels can fish for and possess Atlantic mackerel for biological sam…
- Allow sampling of undersized cod and small personal landings: benefit, low. The EFP would exempt participating vessels from the size restriction in Sec. 648.83(a) to allow sampling of all sizes of cod and pollock during surveys and would permit landing up to 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) of lethally sampled cod per trip for personal use. All other catch must be returned to the…
- Waiver of DAS requirement for EFP trips: benefit, low. The EFP would exempt a limited access Northeast multispecies Category A vessel from the requirement in Sec. 648.82(a) to use a Days-At-Sea (DAS) when conducting the authorized EFP-related activities, so the vessel may conduct the survey without using a DAS.

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## Sources
- [2026-18627 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/14/2026-18627/magnuson-stevens-act-provisions-general-provisions-for-domestic-fisheries-application-for-exempted)
- [2026-18627 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-14/pdf/2026-18627.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-18626, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Managemen…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18626)
- [Next: 2026-18628, Notice of Lodging of Proposed Stipulation and Order of Settlement Under the Tox…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18628)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18627 (as of 2026-09-21).