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In response to recent recommendations from the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) to reduce the risk of North Atlantic right whale entanglement in commercial trap/pot fisheries along the U.S. East Coast, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) intends to propose regulations to amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan). In April 2019, the TRT recommended that state and Federal East Coast fisheries reduce vertical lines through gear reconfigurations and potential lobster trap allocation caps, as well as modify fishing gear to reduce the breaking strength of rope. The TRT also recommended additional buoy line marking and additions or modifications to areas that are already closed to trap/pot fishing. The state government members of the TRT are collaborating with the TRT's industry representatives to scope and develop the appropriate management measures to achieve the TRT’s recommendations for fisheries operating in state waters. Based on what state measures are developed, this rulemaking action would propose comparable management measures for fisheries operating in Federal waters.