NOAA Fisheries is increasing the retention limit for the commercial aggregated large coastal shark and hammerhead shark management groups for directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region from 36 to 45 large coastal sharks—other than sandbar sharks—per vessel per trip.
The retention limit will remain at 45 large coastal sharks—other than sandbar sharks—per vessel, per trip in the Atlantic region. This limit will last until the end of the 2018 fishing season or until NOAA Fisheries announces (in the Federal Register) another adjustment or a fishery closure. This retention limit adjustment affects anyone with a directed shark limited access permit who is fishing for large coastal sharks (other than sandbar sharks) in the Atlantic region.
