Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Commercial Aggregated Large Coastal Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, and Blacktip Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico Region; Retention Limit Adjustment

NMFS is adjusting the commercial retention limit for directed shark limited access permit holders from 45 to 55 large coastal sharks (LCS) other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in the Gulf of Mexico region. In the eastern Gulf of Mexico sub-region, this applies to any shark in the aggregated LCS, hammerhead, or blacktip management groups. In the western Gulf of Mexico sub-region, because aggregated LCS and hammerhead management groups are closed, this increase applies only to the blacktip management group. The retention limit will remain at 55 LCS other than sandbar sharks through the remainder of 2021, or until NMFS announces via a notification in the Federal Register another adjustment to the retention limit or a fishery closure. This retention limit adjustment affects anyone with a directed shark limited access permit fishing for LCS in the Gulf of Mexico region.