Atlantic fishermen could soon be allowed to catch more sharks under newly proposed updates to fishing regulations from the Trump administration, sparking fierce opposition from conservation groups. The changes would affect protections for the endangered blacknose shark, whose population has declined by more than half over the past 25 years. Additionally, recreational fishermen would face higher catch limits per species, and the minimum size for caught sharks would be altered.
Administration's Rationale
The administration argues that the proposed changes are necessary to ease fishing for both recreational and commercial Atlantic fishermen by reducing the shark population. However, ocean and conservation groups contend that the updates lack scientific backing and could harm species already struggling to recover, given that a third of all sharks and rays are at risk of extinction.
Conservationists Speak Out
“We are concerned that the proposal creates opportunities for fishermen to kill significantly more sharks without providing any added protection to the most vulnerable species,” said Sonja Fordham, president of Shark Advocates International. Sarah Uhlemann, international program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, called the idea “just a bad idea,” noting that the global outlook for sharks is “increasingly grim” and that these long-lived creatures “deserve more protection, not expanded opportunities for fishing them out of our seas.” David McGuire, director of the non-profit Shark Stewards, described the proposal as “another example of the weakening regulations on behalf of commercial fishing interests in the absence of science.”
NOAA Fisheries Response
When asked for comment, NOAA Fisheries directed inquiries to publicly available information about the rule and its comment period. Fishermen have claimed in public comments that there is an overabundance of Atlantic sharks impeding their ability to fish, though they did not cite data or acknowledge factors like climate change that scientists say alter shark migration and feeding patterns.
Lack of Population Assessments
McGuire noted that most species included in the proposal lack formal population assessments, despite evidence that many are in decline. Blacknose sharks remain overfished along the East Coast, and their West Coast population status is unclear. The Save Our Seas Foundation stated, “Catching less than the quota is good, and it is not clear why there would be efforts to increase the portion of the quota captured without a new stock assessment.”
Hammerhead and Other Species
Hammerhead sharks, also endangered, currently have a recreational limit of one per trip with a minimum length of 78 inches. The new regulations would allow “up to three, or no limit” but would raise the minimum size to 115 inches. While larger catches ensure older sharks are taken, the New York Aquarium noted in a public comment that the revised minimum sizes “are still well below the age at maturity for most species.” For blue sharks, common threshers, and porbeagles, the proposed minimum size is 54 inches, whereas female maturity typically occurs at 75, 85, and 86 inches, respectively. Fordham explained that “proposals to amend recreational minimum sizes could have merit if the final limits are well matched to the sizes associated with female maturity. This is not the case, however, for the size proposed for the common thresher, porbeagle, and blue shark grouping.”
Global Shark Decline
Shark populations worldwide have dwindled due to trawling, rising ocean temperatures, and marine heat waves. Determining shark populations is inherently difficult due to their marine habitat. Alex Aines, a marine scientist at Oceana, said, “Many of the shark species affected by this proposal are already vulnerable, and scientists still do not have enough information about some of their populations. Oceana is urging NOAA to keep strong protections in place and focus on better science and monitoring before reducing safeguards for these sharks.”
Public comments on the proposal will be accepted for the next 10 days, with the final rule expected later this year.
