Final Atlantic Shark Fishery Review

The final Atlantic Shark Fishery Review (SHARE) document is now available.

What is SHARE?

The SHARE document is a review of the state of the Atlantic shark fishery that may be used to help develop future management measures. Multiple Atlantic shark fisheries are managed by NOAA Fisheries’ Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division. In the document, NOAA Fisheries refers to “the Atlantic shark fishery” to encompass all of the commercial and recreational fisheries and gear types collectively. NOAA Fisheries examined a variety of factors affecting the fishery, including all aspects of commercial and recreational shark fisheries conservation and management, and shark depredation. As a comprehensive review of the Atlantic shark fishery, the SHARE document identifies areas of success, concerns, and potential modifications to regulations and management measures that NOAA Fisheries could make in the future. The table below highlights the topics and areas analyzed.

There are no proposed changes to current regulations or management measures associated with SHARE. Any potential changes to HMS fishery management measures that result from this review process would be considered in future rulemaking.

Public Comment

NOAA Fisheries published a Notice of Availability of the draft SHARE document on October 25, 2021 (86 FR 58891). NMFS received 47 written comments and a variety of verbal comments during a December 2021 public webinar; a summary of public comments received is included in the Appendix of the final SHARE document, which may be accessed here.

Based on the findings outlined in the SHARE document, NOAA Fisheries believes that to improve the overall health of the fishery and shark stocks changes to the shark fishery are warranted. Such changes would occur via the rulemaking process and include appropriate opportunity for public comment.

This notice is a courtesy to fishery permit holders to help keep you informed about the fishery. Official notice of Federal fishery actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of the Federal Register.