Environment

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Modifications To Conform U.S. Fishery Regulations With the Presidential Proclamation Unleashing Commercial Fishing in the Atlantic

🇺🇸United States··Final Rule·Medium Impact·View source ↗

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.

🇬🇧 English

This final rule removes the prohibition on commercial fishing within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The rule rescinds the specific regulation at 50 CFR 600.725(x) that had implemented the prior ban on commercial fishing in the Monument's Canyons and Seamounts units. The change is required to align U.S. fishery regulations with the Presidential Proclamation issued on February 6, 2026, titled "Unleashing Commercial Fishing in the Atlantic," which removed commercial fishing from the list of prohibited activities in the Monument. The rule became effective on April 3, 2026. NMFS used the good cause exception to waive prior public notice and comment because the prohibition had already been lifted by the Proclamation and maintaining the outdated regulation created confusion for the fishing industry.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.

Key Changes

  • Rescinds regulation at 50 CFR 600.725(x) that prohibited commercial fishing in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
  • Removes prior prohibition on all commercial fishing except American lobster and Atlantic deep-sea red crab fisheries
  • Rule effective April 3, 2026, following Presidential Proclamation issued February 6, 2026

+ 3 more changes with Pro

Obligations

What this law requires

high

Rescind and remove the regulation at 50 CFR 600.725(x) that prohibited commercial fishing within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
operational
high

Conform U.S. fishing regulations to the Presidential Proclamation Unleashing Commercial Fishing in the Atlantic (issued February 6, 2026) by removing the commercial fishing prohibition in the Monument

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Secretary of Commerce
operational
high

Ensure all fishery management plans and measures implemented by the Secretary of Commerce are consistent with and conform to the February 2026 Proclamation and the Antiquities Act

Secretary of Commerce and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
operational
high

Permit commercial fishing within the Monument boundaries effective April 3, 2026, subject to federal regulation including regulations at 50 CFR 648.373

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and commercial fishing industry
operational
high

Implement this final rule effective April 3, 2026, without requiring a 30-day delay period under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) and (3)

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
operational

Affected Parties

Commercial fishing industryNortheast U.S. fishermen+3 more…

Tags

commercial fishing,marine national monument,Northeast Canyons