Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Pelagic Longline Management

NMFS issues final regulations to prohibit pelagic longline fishing at certain times and in certain areas within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the Southeastern United States and in the Gulf of Mexico, and to prohibit the use of live bait when deploying pelagic longline gear in the Gulf of Mexico. This action is necessary to reduce bycatch and incidental catch of overfished and protected species by pelagic longline fishermen who target highly migratory species (HMS).