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This rule established regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act to implement decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean on fishing restrictions regarding the oceanic whitetip shark and the whale shark. The regulations applied to owners and operators of U.S. fishing vessels used for commercial fishing for highly migratory species in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention). The regulations for oceanic whitetip sharks prohibited the retention, transshipment, storage, or landing of oceanic whitetip sharks and would require the release of any oceanic whitetip shark as soon as possible after it is caught. The regulations for whale sharks prohibit setting a purse seine on a whale shark and would specify certain measures to be taken and reporting requirements in the event a whale shark is encircled in a purse seine net. This action was necessary for the United States to satisfy its obligations under the Convention, to which it is a Contracting Party.