Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Revisions to Fishing Gear Regulations
Key claim: NOAA Fisheries proposes loosening Atlantic highly migratory species gear rules—expanding where buoy gear and spearguns can be used and what they can catch, and simplifying bait-collection gear rules—to give fishers more flexibility and fishing opportunity.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS is proposing regulatory revisions to fishing gear requirements in fisheries targeting Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) to increase flexibility and remove inefficiencies, thus increasing fishing opportunities and the ability of HMS fisheries to achieve optimum yield. Specifically, NMFS is proposing changes to buoy gear regulations that include modifying gear deployment and retrieval requirements, authorizing this gear under additional permits, and allowing the retention of additional species. NMFS is also proposing changes to speargun fishing gear regulations that include authorizing this gear under additional permits and targeting additional species. Finally, NMFS is proposing overarching changes regarding gear used for the collection of bait in all HMS fisheries.
Why this matters
Atlantic HMS gear rules govern how a narrow but economically significant set of commercial and recreational fishers can pursue tunas, swordfish, sharks, and billfish. Loosening buoy gear and speargun restrictions and simplifying bait-collection gear requirements would modestly expand fishing opportunity and reduce compliance friction, with limited direct effect on consumer seafood prices but potential implications for bycatch and stock management.