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NMFS would issue this regulation under the Tuna Conventions Act to implement Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Resolution C-16-05 (Management of Shark Species) with respect to U.S. flag vessels using purse seine or longline gear. The United States and other member countries adopted this Resolution by consensus in July 2016 - NMFS has determined that the resolution needs to be implemented through regulation. Per Resolution C-16-05, this rule would require purse seine vessels to follow certain specified release requirements for sharks that are discarded in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Convention Area (defined as the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean bounded by the west coast of the Americas, 150 degrees W. longitude, 50 degrees N. latitude, and 50 degrees S. latitude). The rule would not restrict the retention or sale of sharks. In addition, this rule would implement the Resolution by prohibiting longline vessels targeting tuna or swordfish in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Convention Area from using "shark lines" (individual lines attached to the floatline or to the floats directly, and used to target sharks). No U.S. fishermen use shark lines in the Convention Area.