{"abstract":"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.","action":"Proposed rule; request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","id":361,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/361","parent_id":54,"slug":"national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2026/08/14/2026-16591.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"635","title":50}],"citation":"91 FR 52653","comment_url":"http://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050-0080","comments_close_on":"2026-10-13","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Written comments must be received by October 13, 2026. NMFS will hold two public hearing webinars on August 31, 2026 from 1 to 3 p.m. ET and October 1, 2026 from 1 to 3 p.m. ET. For additional details on the public hearings, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. 260811-0511"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"0648-BN52 PR Supporting Document 8-11-26","document_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050-0081"},{"title":"0648-XD861 Scoping_5.1.24withcover508","document_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050-0002"}],"agency_name":"NOAA","documents":[{"comment_count":11,"comment_start_date":"2026-08-14","updated_at":"2026-09-18T01:56:34.056-04:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050-0080","allow_late_comments":false,"id":"NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050-0080","comment_end_date":"2026-10-14","regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":true}],"supporting_documents_count":2,"id":"NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050","title":"Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Gear Considerations"}],"document_number":"2026-16591","effective_on":null,"end_page":52661,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2026/08/14/2026-16591.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/14/2026-16591/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-revisions-to-fishing-gear-regulations","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2026-16591?publication_date=2026-08-14","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2026-08-14/2026-16591/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":9,"page_views":{"count":280,"last_updated":"2026-09-21 20:15:12 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-14/pdf/2026-16591.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-16591.pdf?1786625112","publication_date":"2026-08-14","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/08/14/2026-16591.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0648-BN52":{"issue":"202504","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0648-BN52/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-revisions-to-fishing-gear-regulations","title":"Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Revisions to Fishing Gear Regulations","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202504&RIN=0648-BN52&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0648-BN52"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"0648-BN52 PR Supporting Document 8-11-26","document_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050-0081"},{"title":"0648-XD861 Scoping_5.1.24withcover508","document_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050-0002"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0648-BN52/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-revisions-to-fishing-gear-regulations","title":"Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Revisions to Fishing Gear Regulations"},"comments_count":11,"agency_id":"NOAA","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050","supporting_documents_count":2,"docket_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050","document_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050-0080","regulation_id_number":"0648-BN52","title":"Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Gear Considerations","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2026-09-19T08:55:04Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":"http://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2024-0050-0080","significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":52653,"subtype":null,"title":"Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Revisions to Fishing Gear Regulations","toc_doc":"Revisions to Fishing Gear Regulations","toc_subject":"Atlantic Highly Migratory Species","topics":["Fisheries","Fishing","Fishing vessels","Foreign relations","Imports","Penalties","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Statistics","Treaties"],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":91}