NMFS Issues Regulations for Silky Shark Fishing Restrictions and Fish Aggregating Device Data Collection in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is implementing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act to protect silky sharks and their habitats in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, as agreed upon by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in 2016. The new rules require U.S. purse seine vessel owners to mark and record unique codes on fish aggregating devices and prohibit the retention of silky shark carcasses on board.