NOAA Fisheries Adjusts Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category September Subquota

NOAA Fisheries has transferred 111.6 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota from the Reserve category to the General category for the remainder of the September time period.  This action accounts for an accrued overharvest of 63.3 mt from previous time period subquotas in 2020 and provides additional opportunity for General category fishermen to participate in the September General category fishery, which opened on September 1, 2020. The adjusted September 2020 subquota is 195.6 mt.

Who is affected?

This action applies to commercial Atlantic Tunas General category permitted vessels and to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for bluefin tuna. 

Catch reporting

Atlantic tunas dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of receiving bluefin tuna (or tagging unsold bluefin tuna). Late dealer reporting compromises NOAA Fisheries’ ability to implement actions such as quota and retention limit adjustments or fishery closures and may result in enforcement actions. 

Separate from the dealer reporting requirement, General category and HMS Charter/Headboat category permitted vessel owners are required to report the catch of all bluefin tuna 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.)