Final Rule on Measures for Conservation of Mobulid Rays: Retention Prohibition and Handling and Release Practices

NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule prohibiting retention of mobulid rays and implementing handling and release practices in fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species.

What it will do

• Prohibit retention of mobulid rays in fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species
• Require mobulid rays to be released unharmed in fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species
• Implement mobulid ray handling practices for vessels fishing with pelagic longline gear

Who is affected

• Anyone with a commercial or recreational fishing permit for highly migratory species in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of America and Caribbean Sea
• Any dealer who buys or sells highly migratory species in these areas
• Researchers holding exempted fishing permits or related permits and operating on vessels with fishing permits for highly migratory species

Compliance with new requirements

To comply with this rule, all fishermen with highly migratory species permits must release any mobulid rays captured.

• Fishermen with highly migratory species permits may not retain, land, store, or transship mobulid rays.
• Persons, including dealers, may not sell or purchase any mobulid ray caught by an highly migratory species-permitted vessel.
• Any mobulid ray caught by a vessel with highly migratory species permits must be released unharmed, to the extent practicable, as soon as it is seen on the hook or at the vessel.
• Fishermen with highly migratory species permits using pelagic longline gear must, as safely as practicable, disentangle and release any hooked or entangled mobulid ray using dehookers or line clippers or cutters. If using a line clipper or cutter to release the mobulid ray, to the extent practicable, the gangion must be cut so that less than 3 feet (91.4 cm) of line remains attached to the hook and any line that is wrapped around the animal is removed. Mobulid rays must be released without removing the ray from the water. No mobulid ray may be gaffed.
• Regarding giant manta rays listed under the Endangered Species Act, fishermen should follow other existing handling and release procedures.
• Fishermen must continue to follow other relevant fishery regulations, which are summarized in the highly migratory species compliance guides.

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

Effective Date

This rule will be effective on June 22, 2026.