Department of Commerce

NMFS closes the Angling category Southern New England area fishery for large medium and giant ("trophy" (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm)) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.

For the 2026 fishing year, NMFS announces the opening date of the red snapper commercial fishing season in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Announcing the opening date of the commercial season is an accountability measure (AM) for the commercial sector and allows fishers to maximize their opportunity to harvest the commercial annual catch limit (ACL).

NMFS implements regulations to incorporate revised Atlantic cod stock units into the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and set status determination criteria (SDC), specifications, and commercial and recreational management measures, for the four new cod stocks, as proposed. This action also sets other recreational cod measures necessary for the fishery. The purpose of this action is to prevent overfishing, ensure rebuilding, and help achieve optimum yield in the Northeast multispecies (groundfish) fisheries consistent with the status of the stocks and requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

NMFS issues this final rule to standardize the time limit in which trawl catcher/processors (C/Ps) participating in the groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska Management Area (GOA) and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) must assign each haul to a management program. This action is necessary to improve consistency with respect to when trawl C/Ps are required to assign a haul to a specific management program in a logbook. It allows additional time for vessel operators participating in the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) and non-CDQ fisheries on the same trip to determine which management program to assign a haul to. This rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for Groundfish of the GOA and BSAI Management Areas, and other applicable laws.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is revising its practice of requiring additional information for delays in taking certain actions in patent applications and patents from requiring additional information for delays exceeding two years to requiring additional information for delays exceeding one year. This action is being taken to increase certainty and predictability concerning patent rights, and to encourage the timely filing of grantable petitions to revive applications, accept delayed maintenance fee payments, accept delayed priority or benefit claims, and excuse an applicant's failure to act within prescribed time limits in connection with international design applications. In addition, the USPTO is changing the conditions for when the corresponding petition fee is required.

NMFS is issuing final regulations to remove the Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area off central California for all groundfish fisheries and implement a new Groundfish Exclusion Area for all groundfish fisheries to protect sensitive habitat. The purpose of this action is to simplify regulatory complexity associated with overlapping fishery closures in the Cordell Bank area, and to increase fishing opportunities while still protecting the Cordell Bank ecosystem.

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2026 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This adjustment to the 2026 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2026 commercial quotas for North Carolina and Virginia.

NMFS announces the final 2026 harvest specifications for the salmon fishery of the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for salmon during the 2026 fishing year and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska (Salmon FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the salmon resources in Cook Inlet EEZ Area in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act).

NMFS issues regulations to implement management measures described in a framework action under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf (FMP), as prepared by the Gulf Council (Council). This final rule modifies the Gulf of America (Gulf) Other Shallow-Water Grouper (SWG) complex catch limits and sets a recreational fixed-closed season for Gulf Other SWG. The purpose of this final rule is to reduce harvest of Gulf scamp and yellowmouth grouper while the Council develops Amendment 58A to the FMP (Amendment 58A), which considers additional Other SWG management measures.

NMFS is implementing annual management measures for the 2026 non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery that operates south of Point Chehalis, WA, (lat. 46[deg]53.30' N) in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) Regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. Annual management measures include fishing periods and fishing period limits. This action is intended to conserve Pacific halibut, while providing fishing opportunity to achieve the Regulatory Area 2A allocation set by the IPHC.

This temporary rule extends emergency measures that increase 2026 harvest specifications and sector allocations for shortspine thornyhead, canary rockfish, and petrale sole in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. This increase in harvest specifications is based on new, recently discovered information from the latest catch-only projections, which show a higher biomass of these species available for harvest than determined by stock assessments used to set the 2025-2026 harvest specifications and management measures. This action is necessary to alleviate significant direct economic loss caused by restrictive annual catch limits for these species.

NMFS announces 2026 specifications and projects 2027 and 2028 specifications for the Northeast skate fishery as recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council. This action sets skate catch limits for fishing year 2026, projects catch limits for fishing years 2027 and 2028, and increases trip possession limits for the wing and bait fisheries. This action is necessary to establish skate specifications consistent with the most recent scientific information. The intent of this action is to establish appropriate catch limits for the skate fishery, while providing additional operational flexibility to fishery participants.

This final rule implements and informs the public of specifications for the 2026 fishing year for the golden tilefish and blueline tilefish fisheries north of the North Carolina/Virginia border. This action is necessary to establish allowable harvest levels and other management measures to prevent overfishing while allowing optimum yield, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

By this rule, EDA removes its regulations pertaining to trade adjustment assistance for firms, effective September 30, 2028. The removal of these regulations is ultimately necessary to reflect both the lapse of the underlying statutory authorization as well as the inactive status of this assistance program, and to ensure that EDA's body of regulations remains accurate and up-to-date. This action is intended to eliminate outdated regulatory language, and thereby reduce the possibility of confusion, without altering any substantive obligation or entitlement.

By this rule, Commerce is eliminating a part of the Code of Federal Regulations that merely cross-references the Federal Highway Administration's relocation assistance and real property acquisition regulations. This action is necessary to streamline the Code of Federal Regulations and eliminate regulatory language that lacks any legal or meaningful practical effect. The intended effect of this action is to reduce administrative redundancy without altering any substantive obligations or entitlements.

By this rule, Commerce is eliminating its agency-specific regulations pertaining to the operation of vending stands. The regulations being eliminated lack a sufficient statutory authorization and are substantively unnecessary, given the existence of other, government-wide regulations implementing the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Stand Act and addressing the same issues. This action is necessary to ensure statutory conformity and streamline Commerce's body of regulations, and it will do so without diminishing any statutory obligation or entitlement.

On March 30, 2026, the Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) published a final rule in the Federal Register entitled " Streamlining the Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Regulations", which became effective on March 30, 2026. Subsequent review of the final rule in the Federal Register identified an error necessitating corrective action. Accordingly, this final rule issues a non-substantive correction to the Foreign Trade Regulations.

NMFS announces an inseason action for the Pacific halibut recreational fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A. This action adds fishing dates (June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23) in the Columbia River subarea. These additional fishing dates are intended to provide additional opportunity for anglers to achieve the overall recreational fishery allocations in the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) 2026 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan and to promote full utilization of the 2026 Area 2A Pacific halibut catch limits.

NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 55 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule removes yellowmouth grouper from the other South Atlantic shallow water grouper (other SASWG) complex and establishes a new scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex. This final rule establishes catch levels, sector management measures, and accountability measures (AM) for the new scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex and establishes catch levels for the revised other SASWG complex. In addition, Amendment 55 establishes a rebuilding plan, sector allocations, and status determination criteria (SDC) for the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex. The purpose of this final rule and Amendment 55 is to rebuild the scamp and yellowmouth grouper stock and achieve optimum yield (OY) while minimizing to the extent practicable adverse social and economic effects.

NMFS is prohibiting fishing with large-mesh drift gillnet (DGN) gear (>=14 inches mesh) off the coast of southern California east of 120[deg] W meridian from June 1, 2026, through August 31, 2026. This prohibition is based on the fact that the NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has indicated that the sea surface temperature off the coast of southern California for March and April is warmer than normal and there is an 82 percent probability that El Ni[ntilde]o conditions may occur between May-July. This action protects Endangered Species Act-listed loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), specifically the endangered North Pacific Ocean Distinct Population Segment.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) and closure for the recreational harvest of snowy grouper in South Atlantic Federal waters. NMFS reduces the length of the snowy grouper 2026 recreational fishing season to prevent landings from exceeding the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) in 2026 as they did in 2025. Accordingly, NMFS announces the adjusted closure date for the snowy grouper 2026 recreational fishing season in South Atlantic Federal waters to protect the snowy grouper resource.

NMFS is decreasing the Harpoon category daily retention limit from the default of no more than a combined total of 10 large medium and giant bluefin tuna (BFT) (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) or greater curved fork length (CFL)), to no more than a combined total of 5 large medium and giant BFT. The incidental catch limit of two large medium BFT per vessel per day/trip remains unchanged. This retention limit applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessels from June 1 through the remainder of the 2026 Harpoon category fishing season, which concludes on November 15, 2026, or until further modified.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the recreational harvest of greater amberjack in Federal waters of the Gulf of America (Gulf). The 2026-2027 fishing season for greater amberjack begins on September 1, 2026. NMFS has projected that recreational landings of greater amberjack will reach the annual catch target (ACT) by October 14, 2026. Therefore, the recreational fishing season will be open from September 1 through October 13 and will close on October 14, 2026. NMFS implements this recreational AM to protect the greater amberjack resource.

NMFS is adjusting the Angling category Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limit from the default of one school, large school, or small medium BFT to: two BFT per vessel per day/trip measuring 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length (CFL), only one of which can be large school/small medium- sized fish (47 inches (119 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm) CFL) for private vessels with Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category permits; three BFT per vessel per day/trip measuring 27 inches to less than 73 inches CFL, only one of which can be large school/small medium for charter boat vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits when fishing recreationally for BFT; and six BFT per vessel per day/trip measuring 27 inches to less than 73 inches CFL, only one of which can be large school/small medium for headboat vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits when fishing recreationally for BFT. These retention limits are effective in all areas, except for the Gulf of America, where targeted fishing for BFT is prohibited.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

On August 14, 2025, the Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) published a final rule in the Federal Register entitled "Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR): Clarification of Filing Requirements Regarding In- Transit Shipments and Other FTR Provisions", which became effective on September 15, 2025. Subsequent review of the final rule in the Code of Federal Regulations identified errors necessitating corrective action. Accordingly, this final rule issues non-substantive corrections to the FTR.

NMFS closes the Angling category Gulf of America fishery for large medium and giant ("trophy" (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm)) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the recreational harvest of gag in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of America (Gulf) for the 2026 fishing year. The recreational fishing season for Gulf gag opens on September 1, and NMFS has projected that recreational landings of gag will reach the annual catch target (ACT) by October 1. Therefore, recreational fishing for gag in the Gulf EEZ will be open from September 1 through September 30 and will close on October 1, 2026. The recreational harvest of Gulf gag will remain closed through the end of the fishing year on December 31, 2026. NMFS implements this recreational AM to protect the gag resource.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using hook-and-line (HAL) gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher/processors using HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

In this final rule, NMFS is changing regulations to implement the binding International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Recommendation 24-12 on mobulid rays of the family Mobulidae. Specifically, this action prohibits retention of mobulid rays in fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS), requires mobulid rays to be released unharmed in HMS fisheries, and implements mobulid ray handling practices for vessels fishing with pelagic longline gear.

NMFS announces the 2026 recreational fishing season for blueline tilefish in South Atlantic Federal waters. Announcing the length of the recreational fishing season is the accountability measure (AM) for the recreational sector. For the 2026 fishing year, NMFS estimates that recreational landings of blueline tilefish will not reach the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) and therefore not close prior to the recreational fixed seasonal closure that begins on September 1, 2026. NMFS announces the season length for the recreational harvest of blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic to allow recreational fishermen to maximize their fishing opportunities while NMFS manages recreational harvest to protect the blueline tilefish resource.

Through this final rule, NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California for the season beginning May 16, 2026, until the effective date of the 2027 management measures which we expect to be May 16, 2027 (the 2026 ocean salmon fishing season), under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The fishery management measures include fishing areas, seasons, quotas, legal gear, recreational fishing days and catch limits, harvest guidelines, possession and landing restrictions, and minimum lengths for salmon taken in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Washington, Oregon, and California. These measures are intended to prevent overfishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield from the fishery, to provide for the exercise of federally recognized fishing rights by West Coast Indian Tribes, to allow a portion of the salmon runs to escape the ocean fisheries in order to provide for spawning escapement, and to apportion the ocean harvest reasonably among non-Indian commercial and recreational fisheries.

NMFS, upon request from the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBRP), issues this final rule and associated 5-year letter of authorization (LOA) pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to construction activities conducted in support of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project (IBR Project) on Interstate 5 (I-5) between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, over the course of 5 years. This final rule prescribes the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species and their habitat and establishes requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using hook-and-line (HAL) gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to catcher/processors using HAL gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

This final rule announces the 2026 U.S. total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific whiting and implements the domestic 2026 harvest specifications for Pacific whiting fisheries off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California (collectively, the West Coast), including the 2026 Tribal allocation for the Pacific whiting fishery, the non-Tribal fishery Harvest Guideline and sector allocations, and a set-aside for research activities and incidental mortality in non- groundfish fisheries. These measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, achieve optimum yield, ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available, and provide for the implementation of Tribal treaty fishing rights.

This action implements measures for the Northeast multispecies fishery under Regional Administrator authority for the 2026 fishing year. This action is necessary to ensure that the Northeast multispecies fishery may achieve the optimum yield for the relevant stocks, while controlling catch to help prevent in-season closures or quota overages. These measures are the allocation of zero trips into the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock Special Access Program (SAP) for common pool vessels to target yellowtail flounder and the closure of the Regular B Days-at-Sea (DAS) Program.

Recreational landings of red snapper in Louisiana during 2025 exceeded the annual catch limit (ACL) apportioned to the state for the private angling component of the recreational sector. According to the accountability measure (AM), NMFS reduces Louisiana's 2026 ACL for red snapper in the Gulf of America (Gulf) by the amount of the overage in 2025. NMFS implements this AM for the 2026 fishing year to protect the red snapper resource in the Gulf.

By this rule, Commerce is updating and amending its regulations implementing the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act of 2021. This action will ensure statutory conformity, clarify and improve Commerce's regulations, and promote inter-agency uniformity without diminishing any substantive requirements, entitlements, or obligations established by the HAVANA Act.

NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia is transferring a portion of its 2026 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of New Jersey. This adjustment to the 2026 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2026 commercial quotas for Virginia and New Jersey.

This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial and recreational groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to allow commercial and recreational fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks. Additionally, this inseason action is expected to help achieve the full attainment of the groundfish annual catch limit (ACL), thereby supporting $164 million in ex-vessel revenue for commercial non-whiting groundfish landings and approximately 100,000 annual angler trips off Oregon.

This final rule approves changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) Regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, the rule implements management measures for the 2026 recreational fisheries in Regulatory Area 2A, including the recreational fishery season open dates and subarea allocations for Regulatory Area 2A. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut, while providing additional angler opportunity to achieve the Regulatory Area 2A allocation set by the IPHC.

In this action, NMFS adjusts the base annual commercial quotas for the 2026 Atlantic shark commercial fishing year as allowable based on underharvests from the 2025 fishing year. The 2026 Atlantic shark commercial fishing year opened on January 1, 2026, under the base annual commercial quotas and default commercial retention limits. This action is necessary to provide additional fishing opportunities for commercial shark fishermen to harvest optimum yield from the Atlantic shark fisheries.

NMFS approves and implements Federal management measures for the 2026 and 2027 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. This action implements management measures intended to allow these recreational fisheries to achieve, but not exceed, the recreational harvest target and thereby prevent overfishing.

NMFS is prohibiting recreational fishing for Chinook salmon in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary for the conservation of Cook Inlet Chinook salmon stocks that continue to be in a low state of abundance as assessed in the NMFS 2026 stock assessment and fisheries evaluation (SAFE) report and the 2026 State of Alaska forecasts of very low run strength.

NMFS announces the implementation of Framework Adjustment 18 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This framework modifies exemptions to the minimum mesh size requirements in the commercial summer flounder fishery. The purpose of this action is to increase operational flexibility for the commercial fishing industry.

NMFS is implementing Framework Adjustment 19 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Framework Adjustment 7 to the Bluefish FMP (together the "Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework") that make limited revisions to the process for setting recreational management measures and recreational accountability measures for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish.

This final rule allocates Northeast multispecies annual catch entitlements (ACE) to approved groundfish sectors and permit banks for fishing year 2026 based on 2026 annual catch limits (ACL) set in Framework Adjustment 69 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) or default specifications and provides notice of specifications for 11 stocks that are set by default in accordance with existing regulations. This action is intended to allow limited access permit holders to continue to operate sectors, as authorized under the FMP.

NMFS approves and implements Framework Adjustment 17 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action revises the Atlantic mackerel rebuilding plan, sets final 2026 and projects 2027 specifications, implements additional management measures for the mackerel fishery, and makes administrative revisions and corrections to existing regulations. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information from a September 2025 management track stock assessment. The management measures in this action are intended to help prevent overfishing, rebuild the overfished mackerel stock, provide additional opportunity to the fishing industry and achieve optimum yield, and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available.

By this rule, NIST removes its regulations establishing fellowships in laboratory standardization and testing for foreign citizens of "other American republics." This action is necessary because no statute specifically requires or contemplates the promulgation of these regulations and because there has not been any active program under these regulations in decades. The removal of these regulations will streamline the Code of Federal Regulations, thereby promoting administrative simplicity and efficiency, and also reprioritize U.S. interests.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) and closure for the recreational harvest of gag in South Atlantic Federal waters. As a result of gag recreational landings exceeding the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) in 2025, NMFS reduces the length of the gag 2026 recreational season to prevent landings from exceeding the recreational ACL in 2026. Accordingly, NMFS announces the gag 2026 recreational season in South Atlantic Federal waters will close on August 2, 2026.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA.

In this final rule, NMFS implements an annual catch limit (ACL) of 493,000 pounds (lb) (223,621 kilograms (kg)) of Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) for fishing years 2025- 2026 and 2026-2027. The fishing year begins on September 1 and ends on August 31 of the following year. This rule maintains current accountability measures (AM) requiring the fishery to close for the remainder of the fishing year if the ACL is reached, and a reduction in the following year's ACL if it is exceeded. This final rule supports the long-term sustainability of the Deep 7 bottomfish fishery.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS promulgates regulations to govern the incidental taking of marine mammals during geophysical survey activity conducted in the Gulf of America (GOA), over the course of 5 years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOA) to survey operators for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframe, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

By this rule, the Department eliminates an outdated regulation related to reports on exports of technology. The cited statutory basis for the regulation has been repealed, and its contents are plainly obsolete and pose a genuine risk of confusion. This action is necessary to ensure that the Department's body of regulations remains accurate, up-to-date, and in conformity with statutory law. This action is intended to reduce the possibility of public confusion and promote administrative efficiency.

By this rule, the Department of Commerce (Department) amends its regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) to eliminate provisions concerning disparate-impact liability and affirmative action. These amendments align the Department's regulations with Title VI's original public meaning, avoid constitutional concerns, reduce compliance costs, and serve the public interest. In addition, these revisions implement changes directed in Executive Order 14281.

By this rule, Commerce is amending its regulations governing restrictions on lobbying. Specifically, Commerce is amending said regulations by removing two redundant and unnecessary compliance provisions and by removing two reporting requirements that are obsolete and unwarranted. The intended effects of this action are to eliminate redundancy, promote administrative efficiency, and update Commerce's lobbying regulations to properly reflect and implement the underlying statutory authority in its current form.

By this rule, the Department of Commerce (Department) amends the definition of the term "United States" set forth in two of its regulations. Specifically, this rule removes references to "the Canal Zone," which is no longer part of the United States, and makes other minor edits to ensure that the two definitions are identical. This action is necessary to ensure that the Department's regulations are accurate, up-to-date, and consistent. The intended effect is to eliminate outdated language, reduce inconsistencies across the Department's regulations, and minimize the possibility of confusion.

In this final rule, NESDIS establishes an updated schedule of fees for special access to NOAA data, information, and related products and services. NOAA continues to make its environmental data available to the public without any fee in most instances consistent with Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). NOAA disseminates this data without any fee primarily via NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information's (NCEI) Archive, Comprehensive Large Array-Data Stewardship System (CLASS), and partners such as the NOAA Open Data Dissemination Program. NESDIS is revising the fee schedule that has been in effect since 2023 to ensure that the fees accurately reflect the costs of providing access to the environmental data, information, and related products and services.

NMFS announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2026 fishing year for Limited Access General Category (LAGC) vessels. Regulations require this action once NMFS projects that 100 percent of the Northern Gulf of Maine Set-Aside will be harvested. This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the 2026 Northern Gulf of Maine Set-Aside.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is revising the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by extending by about eight months the triggering date for authorized integrated circuit designer status and submission date for applications to become an approved integrated circuit (IC) designer. The new date is December 31, 2026.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2026 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of New Jersey. This adjustment to the 2026 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2026 commercial quotas for North Carolina and New Jersey.

NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia is transferring a portion of its 2026 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This adjustment to the 2026 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2026 commercial quotas for Virginia and Massachusetts.

This action rescinds regulations issued under the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) that restrict commercial fishing within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (Monument). This action is necessary to conform U.S. fishing regulations with the February 6, 2026, Presidential Proclamation Unleashing Commercial Fishing in the Atlantic.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut Corporation and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) pollock directed fishing allowances (DFA) from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea. This action is necessary to provide the opportunity for the harvest of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI).

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.

NMFS is providing notification for the Rockfish Program cooperative allocations as described in the final rule that published on March 11, 2026, implementing the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications and prohibited species catch limits for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). These allocations are necessary to provide the Rockfish Program cooperative amounts for 2026, thus allowing commercial fishermen to maximize their economic opportunities in this fishery. This notification comports with the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP).

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season allowance of the 2026 TAC of Pacific cod to be harvested.

NMFS announces the 2026 recreational fishing season for the Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) component for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of America (Gulf) through this temporary rule. The red snapper recreational for-hire component in the Gulf EEZ opens on June 1, 2026, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 26, 2026. This closure is necessary to prevent the Federal for-hire component from exceeding its quota and to prevent overfishing of the Gulf red snapper resource.

By this rule, Commerce amends its agency-specific acquisition regulation by updating or removing certain outdated and unnecessary regulatory language, by moving a subpart to better track and correspond with the structure of the government-wide Federal Acquisition Regulation, and by correcting a typographical error. This action is intended to update, correct, and streamline Commerce's agency-specific acquisition regulation and make it easier to navigate, thereby promoting efficiency, without creating or altering any entitlements, restrictions, or obligations.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI.

By this rule, the Census Bureau is amending its foreign trade regulations by consolidating and streamlining certain cross-references to, and restatements of, other regulations and authorities. This action is intended to simplify and streamline the foreign trade regulations, and thereby promote efficiency, without affecting any substantive obligations or entitlements.

NMFS approves and implements Framework Adjustment 40 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that establishes specifications for fishing years 2026 and 2027, including days-at-sea, limited access general category allocations, and modified area designations to optimize yield and to protect juvenile scallops. This action is necessary to prevent overfishing and improve resource yield- per-recruit and management of the fishery.

NMFS announces the closure date of the 2026 recreational fishing season for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. The 2026 recreational fishing season for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ is closed starting on March 27, 2026. This closure is necessary to prevent recreational landings of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ from exceeding the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) and to protect the golden tilefish resource from overfishing.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open at 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 26, 2026, and will close at 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2026. These dates are the same as the 2026 commercial halibut fishery dates adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), except the hours are not the same. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season dates are specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures, which should be referenced for the halibut-specific opening and closure times.

NMFS issues this final rule to clarify the reporting requirements that are in effect because of a 2023 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The 2023 court decision vacated a 2020 final rule that implemented changes to the reporting requirements for owners and operators of vessels issued Gulf of America (Gulf) charter vessel/headboat permits (for-hire permits) for Gulf reef fish or Gulf coastal migratory pelagic (CMP) species. In compliance with the Fifth Circuit ruling, NMFS issues this rule to formally reinsert the current reporting requirements into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The reporting requirements set forth by this rule are the same as those implemented in 2014 and in effect prior to the now-invalidated 2020 final rule. Further, as a result of the 2023 court decision, NMFS has already been directing permit holders to comply with these restored reporting requirements.

We, NMFS, announce a 12-month finding on a petition to revise the critical habitat designation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the Southern California steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) distinct population segment (DPS). The petition from the United Water Conservation District (UWCD) requests the removal of an approximately 9-mile (14.5-kilometer (km)) stream reach from the confluence of Hopper Creek and the Santa Clara River to the face of Santa Felicia Dam. Based on our review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that the petitioned action to remove this reach from the critical habitat designation is warranted. Consequently, we are proposing to remove this reach from the critical habitat designation for Southern California steelhead.

NMFS proposes to implement annual harvest specifications and management measures for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine (hereafter, Pacific sardine), for the fishing year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. This proposed rule would prohibit most directed commercial fishing for Pacific sardine off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Pacific sardine harvest would be allowed for use only as live bait, in minor directed fisheries, as incidental catch in other fisheries, or as authorized under exempted fishing permits. The proposed harvest specifications for 2026-2027 include an overfishing limit of 4,645 metric tons (mt), an acceptable biological catch (ABC) of 3,613 mt, an annual catch limit (ACL) of 2,200 mt, and an annual catch target (ACT) of 2,100 mt. This proposed rule is intended to conserve, manage, and rebuild the Pacific sardine stock off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 22 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce. This notification announces that the proposed Amendment 22 to the CPS FMP is available for public review and comment and is currently being reviewed by NMFS for approval, disapproval, or partial approval. If approved, Amendment 22 would update essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions for stocks managed under the CPS FMP based on a recent review of available information. There are no management measures proposed as part of this action, and no regulations are necessary to implement the proposed updates. The Council has proposed this amendment with the intention to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the CPS FMP, and other applicable laws. NMFS will consider public comments in deciding whether to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 22.

NMFS seeks public comment on the management measures proposed in Amendment 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf (Shrimp FMP). The Gulf Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 19 for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. If approved, Amendment 19 would extend the moratorium on the issuance of new commercial shrimp permits in the Gulf of America (Gulf) that is set to expire after October 26, 2026. NMFS implemented the permit moratorium to create stability and prevent overcapacity in the Gulf shrimp fishery. Amendment 19 would extend the permit moratorium for an additional 10 years and maintain historical limits on shrimp fishing effort.

NMFS seeks public comment on proposed regulations to implement management measures described in amendments to four fishery management plans (FMPs) in the Gulf of America (Gulf), South Atlantic, and Atlantic, referenced here as the Commercial Electronic Logbook Amendments. If the Commercial Electronic Logbook Amendments are implemented by NMFS through this proposed rule, submission of certain commercial fishing logbooks would be required in an electronic format rather than the current paper format. NMFS is also proposing minor changes to some of the required data fields in the logbooks determined to be necessary to successfully transition from paper to electronic reporting. The purpose of this proposed rule is to increase the accuracy and efficiency of fisheries data that NMFS receives from federally permitted fishermen participating in the applicable commercial fisheries that occur in the Gulf, South Atlantic, and Atlantic.

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted Amendment 4 to the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan (Puerto Rico FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. If approved, Amendment 4 would reclassify rainbow runner from a reef fish to a pelagic fish under the Puerto Rico FMP. Amendment 4 would result in revised management measures for rainbow runner based on the pelagic fish classification, including sector annual catch targets (ACTs) and accountability measures (AMs). The sector-specific annual catch limits (ACLs) would be retained after the reclassification. The purpose of Amendment 4 is to ensure that rainbow runner is managed consistent with its life history characteristics, fishing patterns, and the Council's management of other pelagic species.

NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has transmitted the Omnibus Management Flexibility Amendment to the New England Fishery Management Council Fishery Management Plans (FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, the Amendment would allow for increased management flexibility and consistency across all the Council's FMPs. The intended effect of the Amendment is to modify certain administrative measures across all the Council's FMPs. This notice is intended to alert the public to this action and provide an opportunity for comment.

NMFS is proposing to implement recent binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) on quotas for North Atlantic swordfish, South Atlantic swordfish, North Atlantic albacore tuna (northern albacore), and Atlantic bluefin tuna. While this action does not propose to change the existing baseline quotas for North Atlantic swordfish, South Atlantic swordfish, and northern albacore, this action proposes to implement the management procedure for North Atlantic swordfish, describes the existing management procedure for northern albacore, and considers the possibility of future quota changes for swordfish and northern albacore consistent with their respective management procedures and ICCAT recommendations. For bluefin tuna, this action also proposes to implement the increased U.S. baseline quota adopted by ICCAT in 2025, divide it among the established regulatory domestic subquota categories, and implement changes to the bluefin tuna quota associated with longline bycatch adopted by ICCAT in 2025. This proposed rule also describes the annual quota adjustment procedures for North Atlantic swordfish, South Atlantic swordfish, northern albacore, and bluefin tuna and requests public comment on them. This action is required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) and to achieve domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Amendment 58B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf (FMP) (Amendment 58B). For the deep-water grouper (DWG) complex, this proposed rule would revise the catch limits, set a recreational annual catch limit (ACL), and revise the recreational accountability measure (AM). Amendment 58B would also revise the status determination criteria and sector allocations for the DWG complex. The purpose of this proposed rule and Amendment 58B is to update catch levels, management measures, and sector allocations for the DWG complex consistent with the best scientific information available.

NMFS proposes regulatory and administrative changes to implement improvements to the Greater Atlantic Region's Catch Share Cost Recovery Programs. These updates are intended to simplify regulations and reduce costs for the Scallop Individual Fishing Quota, Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota, and Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota fisheries. This action would result in improved administration and management of the scallop, tilefish, and surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries.

NMFS proposes a framework to determine catch limits for all U.S. fisheries and retention limits by U.S. longline fisheries under a Hawaii longline limited entry permit for Western and Central North Pacific Ocean (WCNPO) striped marlin (Kajikia audax), consistent with Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) 2024-06. If the retention limit is reached, NMFS proposes to prohibit longline retention of WCNPO striped marlin by longline fishing vessels until the end of the year to prevent the U.S. catch limit from being exceeded. Because the U.S. limit under the framework can change each year, NMFS proposes to specify the updated catch and longline retention limits by notice in the Federal Register early each calendar year. For fishing year 2026, NMFS proposes to specify a U.S. WCNPO striped marlin limit of 393.4 metric tons (mt) (867,300 pounds (lb)) and a U.S. longline retention limit of 381.6 mt (841,300 lb) using the framework.

NMFS proposes to modify the annual catch limit (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for Mariana bottomfish management unit species (MUS) in Guam. The proposed rule would increase the ACL from 31,000 pounds (lb) (14,061 kilograms (kg)) to 34,500 lb (15,649 kg), replace the in-season AM with a post-season overage adjustment if average catch from the most recent 3 years exceeds the ACL, and remove the higher performance standard that closes the fishery in Federal waters for any overage. The proposed rule considers the best available scientific, commercial, and other information about the fishery, and supports rebuilding of the fishery.

NMFS is proposing regulations to implement specifications and management measures in Framework Adjustment 17 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action would set monkfish specifications for fishing year 2026, project specifications for fishing years 2027 and 2028, streamline the Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Overage Accountability Measure (AM) trigger, and add default specifications for the monkfish fishery. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and achieve the goals and objectives of the FMP. The proposed measures are intended to help prevent overfishing and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available.

NMFS seeks public comment on proposed regulations to implement Regulatory Amendment 36 under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (Snapper-Grouper FMP). This proposed rule would revise the recreational vessel limits for gag and black grouper. Additionally, this proposed rule would revise the transit storage requirements for commercial on-demand, also known as ropeless, black sea bass pots. The purpose of these regulatory changes is to increase biological benefits to the gag and black grouper stocks, and to allow more practical transit of vessels through certain gear restricted areas with on-demand black sea bass pots on board consistent with mandates in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

NMFS issues these proposed regulations to implement amendment 36 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (Groundfish FMP). The proposed regulations include management measures that would apply to vessels registered to limited entry fixed gear (LEFG) endorsed permits and LEFG permit owners in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. Specifically, NMFS proposes to add flexibility to the LEFG permits' gear endorsements, remove the base permit designation of LEFG permits, remove the start and end times (i.e., hours of the day) for the open dates of the primary sablefish season, and develop a cost recovery program for the LEFG primary sablefish fishery. The purpose of this action is to provide increased flexibility to LEFG participants while reducing administrative burdens and to develop a cost recovery program to meet the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

NMFS is proposing changes to regulations regarding pelagic and demersal indicator species in the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) pelagic and bottom longline fisheries. Specifically, NMFS is proposing to remove the regulations regarding pelagic and demersal indicator species and the list of pelagic and demersal indicator species from the HMS regulations. These proposed changes would directly impact pelagic and bottom longline fishermen who hold Atlantic HMS fishing permits. The purpose of this action is to increase fishing flexibilities, remove regulatory inefficiencies, and optimize the ability of pelagic and bottom longline fisheries to harvest available quotas to the extent practicable while still achieving fishery management and conservation goals.

We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review of the tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) in response to a petition to list the species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. After reviewing the best scientific and commercial data available, we have determined that this species is comprised of six distinct population segments (DPSs) and that two, the Southern (So.) Africa and Southwest (SW) Atlantic DPSs, are likely to become in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges in the foreseeable future. Therefore, we propose to list the So. Africa and SW Atlantic DPSs as threatened species under the ESA. We have also determined that the remaining four DPSs--the Northeast (NE) Atlantic, NE Pacific, SW Pacific, and Southeast (SE) Pacific DPSs--do not meet the definition of a threatened or endangered species under section 4(a) of the ESA and therefore do not warrant listing under the ESA. We solicit information to inform the final listing determinations.

NMFS proposes 2026 harvest specifications for the salmon fishery of the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for salmon during the 2026 fishing year and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska (Salmon FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the salmon resources in Cook Inlet EEZ Area in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act).

This document corrects an error in the ADDRESSES section of a proposed rule published on March 18, 2026.

The Gulf Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 62 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf (FMP) (Amendment 62) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. If approved, Amendment 62 would, for Gulf of America (Gulf) red grouper, revise the catch limits and sector allocations. Additionally, Amendment 62 would remove the February 1 through March 31 shallow-water grouper (SWG) recreational seasonal closure in Gulf Federal waters seaward of the 20-fathom boundary. The purpose of Amendment 62 is to modify the catch limits and sector allocations of Gulf red grouper based on the best scientific information available, and to remove the recreational closed season for SWG seaward of the 20-fathom boundary.

In this action, NMFS proposes specifications for the 2026 fishing year for the golden tilefish and blueline tilefish fisheries north of the North Carolina/Virginia border. The proposed action is necessary to establish allowable harvest levels and other management measures to prevent overfishing while allowing optimum yield, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

NMFS proposes 2026 through 2028 specifications for the Northeast skate fishery. This action would set skate catch limits for fishing year 2026, project catch limits for fishing years 2027 through 2028, and increase per trip possession limits for the wing and bait fisheries. This proposed action is necessary to establish skate specifications consistent with the most recent scientific information. The intent of this action is to establish appropriate catch limits for the skate fishery while providing additional operational flexibility to fishery participants.