July 9, 2019

Latest Bluefin Tuna In season Adjustment

Bluefin Tuna General Category Retention Limit Set to One Fish through August 31, 2019

The National Marine Fisheries Service is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General category daily retention limit from three large medium or giant BFT per vessel per day/trip to ONE large medium or giant BFT per vessel per day/trip for the remainder of the June through August 2019 subquota period. This action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.

DATES: Effective July 11, 2019, through August 31, 2019.

Who is Affected?

This action applies to General category permitted vessels and to HMS Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT. It is effective for all areas except for the Gulf of Mexico. Because it is a designated spawning ground, targeted BFT fishing is not allowed in the Gulf.
Regardless of the duration of a fishing trip, the daily retention limit applies upon landing. For example, whether a vessel fishing under the General category limit takes a two-day trip or makes two trips in one day, the daily limit of one fish may not be exceeded upon landing.

Catch Reporting

Dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of a dealer receiving BFT. Late reporting by dealers compromises our ability to timely implement actions such as quota and retention limit adjustments, as well as closures, and may result in enforcement actions.
Separate from the dealer reporting requirement, General category and HMS Charter/Headboat category vessel owners are required to report their catch of all BFT retained or discarded dead, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip by:

Get on Board

Get up to date information on events, news, and research on a constant basis. Submit your email now to join our exclusive newsletter.

Share this Story

Latest News

Shop TBF

Billfish Foundation Tags
$21.00
TBF Yeti Slim Can Cooler
$25.00
Anetik Retro Long Sleeve
$55.00
TBF Signature Rope Hat
$35.00

Upcoming Events

Recent News

Exploring the Depths of Conservation: Dive into the latest updates and insights from The Billfish Foundation. Discover engaging stories and pioneering research in our ongoing commitment to marine preservation.

Interested in Learning More?

TBF provides a voice for billfish conservation and the recreational fishing community globally.
Our success would not be possible without the support of our community. Review the ways you can support our efforts.
TBF fosters strong billfish conservation ethics, helping anglers of all generations understand the importance of the recreational sportfishing industry and billfish

Get on Board

Join our Newsletter

Get up to date information on events, news, and research on a constant basis. Submit your email now to join our exclusive newsletter.

Explore Our Socials

Search TBF

Important Deadlines

NOV
01
TBF Gala 2024 – Save the Date