NOAA proposes Atlantic HMS gear changes; public comment closes October 13
A proposed rule published in August would expand how buoy gear and spearguns are used in Atlantic HMS fisheries and allow small bait nets aboard HMS vessels. Written comments are due October 13, 2026.
The National Marine Fisheries Service published a proposed rule on August 14, 2026 that would revise gear regulations for Atlantic highly migratory species fisheries. The rule covers three areas: buoy gear deployment and retrieval, speargun fishing, and bait collection equipment. Written comments are due October 13, 2026. The rule is Federal Register document 2026-16591.
The buoy gear section would authorize power assistance for setting and retrieving gear, expand permit eligibility to include the Swordfish General Commercial permit and select tuna/shark commercial permits, and allow retention of additional tuna and shark species under those expanded permits. Current regulations limit powered retrieval and restrict buoy gear to a narrower set of permitted vessels.
The speargun section would allow commercial retention and sale of bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas under certain commercial permits. The bait collection section would allow cast nets, dipnets, and other small nets aboard HMS-permitted vessels, with the requirement that the gear cannot be configured to capture target HMS species.
The three changes primarily affect holders of commercial Atlantic HMS permits, including Swordfish General Commercial and designated tuna/shark commercial permits, and for-hire vessels with commercial endorsements. Recreational anglers fishing under HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat permits are not directly regulated by these provisions. The rule is a proposal; changes depend on final rulemaking after public comment. The NOAA Fisheries action page for the proposed rule carries the docket number for submitting written comments through regulations.gov. Comments must arrive by October 13, 2026. For background on recreational and for-hire HMS retention limits in effect this October, see the current bluefin tuna status piece on this site.
This is a rules summary. The controlling text is the Federal Register document; the NOAA Fisheries action page linked below is the starting point for both the docket and any subsequent amendments to the proposed rule.
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