PUBLIC NOTICE OF APPLICATION
FOR CONSISTENCY DETERMINATION
UNDER THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT
The National Marine Fisheries Service has filed notice of a proposed project which requires review by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to ensure compliance with the state's approved Coastal Program under the Coastal Zone Management Act. The applicant is proposing a rule that would prohibit the retention of mobulid rays in fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS), to require mobulid rays to be released unharmed in HMS fisheries, and to implement mobulid ray-handling practices for vessels fishing with pelagic longline gear.
Project details can be found at https://dmr.ms.gov/permitting or can be provided by mail if requested at 228-523-4106.
Any person wishing to make comments or objections to the proposed activity must submit those comments in writing to the Department of Marine Resources by mail to 1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39530; by fax to 228-374-5008; or by email to thomas.butera@dmr.ms.gov before 1:00 p.m. on the day September 22, 2025.
IPL0269814
Sep 7 2025