NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under NOAA is proposing several changes for commercial and recreational Atlantic shark fisheries affecting blacknose sharks in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus) is a small, coastal species of requiem shark named for the distinct dusky or black blotch on the tip of its snout. These sharks are listed as endangered on the Red List by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
NMFS is considering options to remove the blacknose shark management boundary in the Atlantic region, modify the commercial retention limit for blacknose sharks in the Atlantic region, revise the recreational minimum size limits for Atlantic shark species, and revise the recreational retention limits for Atlantic shark species. In this action, NMFS would also remove commercial management group quota linkages, consistent with Amendment 14 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and make technical changes to clarify certain HMS regulations.
Award Period: 8/1/2022–7/31/2023.
These sharks are considered overfished with decreasing populations in the Atlantic and the Gulf. They have high bycatch in shrimp trawls and have been caught in commercial and recreational fisheries.
Add your voice to the public record telling NMFS no weakening protection for the Blacknose sharks. Specifically ask for boat and bag limits to remain unchanged: Alternative D1: Keep the current recreational retention limits for sharks. – No Action
Written comments must be received by March 6, 2026.
A plain language summary of this proposed rule is available at: https://www.regulations.gov/ docket/ NOAA-NMFS-2024-0039. You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2024-0039, by electronic submission. Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter “NOAA-NMFS-2024-0039” in the Search box. Click on the “Comment” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Population Status in Florida
The population is split between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and their health varies significantly by region:
- Atlantic Stock (East Coast): This stock is currently classified as overfished and subject to overfishing. While a rebuilding plan is in place to promote population growth, the IUCN recently listed the species as Endangeredglobally. In 2026, NOAA proposed new rules to remove specific management boundaries to better manage this struggling stock.
- Gulf of Mexico Stock (West Coast): The population status in the Gulf is technically unknown because recent stock assessments were deemed insufficient to support a clear status. However, there is no targeted commercial fishery for them in the Gulf to prevent potential overfishing.
Blacknose sharks have relatively few young, with 1-8 pups and a gestation period of 10-11 months. Their age of reproduction is 4.5 years for females in the Atlantic, and 6.6 years in the Gulf. he primary threats to the blackness shark are overfishing, climate change, and habitat loss, which have led to it being considered endangered on the IUCN Red List.
SOURCES
HMS Management Division website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ action/ proposed-rule-revisions-commercial-atlantic-blacknose-and-recreational-atlantic-shark
Mitigating interactions between sharks and snapper-grouper fisheries in the Southeastern US through testing of novel deterrent devices. NOAA/NMFS Bycatch Reduction and Engineering Program PI: M.J. Ajemian; Co-PIs: S. Kajiura, L. Brewster; J. M. Drymon;