NOAA Fisheries Service has published rules that reduce commercial and recreational fishing for black sea bass in the Atlantic Ocean. A stock assessment completed in 2011 showed that black sea bass are undergoing overfishing. This new rule would modify recreational and commercial harvest regulations in the Atlantic Ocean to achieve consistency between the Commission’s black sea bass regulations and federal regulations in Atlantic federal waters. The Commission is considering changes to state regulations that would 1) increase the minimum size limits for commercial and recreational harvest to 11 inches total length (TL) and 13 inches TL respectively in the Atlantic, 2) decrease the recreational bag limit from 15 to five fish per person per day in the Atlantic, 3) require anyone fishing with black sea bass traps in Atlantic state waters to have a federal South Atlantic black sea bass pot endorsement and a commercial snapper grouper unlimited permit, and 4) change Atlantic state trap requirements to match federal trap specifications and requirements (This would include trap construction requirements, requiring traps to be set in waters north of Cape Canaveral, and requiring traps to be removed from the water and brought back to shore at the conclusion of each trip.). The effect of these rule amendments is that federal and state regulations can be applied more consistently to all fishing activity in the Atlantic Ocean. Consistent regulations in state waters would contribute to the federal rebuilding plan and reduce the likelihood of catch exceeding federal annual catch limits. This should help ensure a sustainable harvest for the future.