Closure: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Southern New England Area Trophy Fishery

Closure: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Southern New England Area Trophy Fishery

Fishery: Angling Category Southern New England Area Trophy Bluefin Tuna (the Southern New England area is defined as the area south of 42° N. lat. and north of 39°18′ N. lat.) more information on this area can be found in the Amendment 13 Compliance Guide.

Please note, that the Angling category fishery for school, large school, or small medium bluefin tuna (27 to <73”) remains open in all areas except for the Gulf of Mexico, which is designated as bluefin tuna spawning grounds and where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna.

Closed: June 5, 2023, 11:30 pm – December 31, 2023

Reason for closure: Quota has been reached and exceeded.

Permits affected: HMS Angling category permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels fishing recreationally in the southern New England area (defined above).

Recreational fishermen aboard vessels with an Atlantic HMS Angling category or HMS Charter/Headboat permit (while fishing recreationally) may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (i.e., measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater) in the southern New England area from 11:30 p.m. June 5, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

Commercial: Not affected by this closure.

Why is the fishery closing?

Based on the best available landings information, the 2.3-mt Angling category southern New England “trophy” bluefin tuna subquota has been reached and exceeded.

Reporting

HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessel owners are required to report the catch of all bluefin retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip by:

• Accessing the HMS Permit Shop.
• Using the HMS Catch Reporting app.
• Calling 888-872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.).