Final Rule Prohibits Keeping Mobulid Rays in Atlantic Fisheries
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NOAA has finalized a rule that bans fishermen from keeping mobulid rays, which include manta rays and devil rays, in Atlantic fisheries for highly migratory species like tuna, swordfish, billfish, and sharks.
Why it matters: This rule changes how Atlantic commercial and recreational fishermen handle a specific group of bycatch animals. It does not restrict where they can fish or what they can target, but it adds a clear compliance requirement for handling and discarding mobulid rays. The practical effect is mostly administrative for most vessels, though it standardizes release procedures to improve survival rates and closes a potential loophole that could allow the sale of accidentally caught rays.
Who it affects
- Commercial and recreational HMS permit holders fishing for tuna, swordfish, billfish, and sharks
This summary is based on a final rule published by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service in the Federal Register; you should review the full document and its supporting environmental and economic analyses before relying on it for compliance purposes.
Agency: Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source: Federal Register — read the official document