In response to a request from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, NMFS would consider adding Maine to the list of states at 50 CFR 635.1(b) for which the federal Atlantic tunas regulations under 50 CFR part 635 are applicable within state waters. Atlantic highly migratory species fisheries are managed under the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). Under section 9(d) of ATCA, NOAA Fisheries determines if state regulations applicable to Atlantic tunas are at least as restrictive as federal regulations and if such regulations are effectively enforced. For such states, federal Atlantic tunas regulations do not apply in state waters. Most states and territories bordering the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico are currently included under 635.1(b), with the exception of Maine, Connecticut, and Mississippi. This rule would consider changing the regulation at 635.1(b) to include Maine and would make federal Atlantic tunas regulations applicable in Maine state waters, including but not limited to open and closed seasons, retention limits, size limits, authorized gears and gear restrictions, and permitting and reporting requirements. This action would be consistent with section 9(d) of the ATCA and is being taken pursuant to the rulemaking authority under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 304(g) and ATCA.