Modifications to Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Limit
NOAA is adjusting the daily retention limit for recreational fishermen for the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category. Effective immediately, the limit will extend throughout the remainder of 2024 unless modified by later action. The daily retention limits will apply to permitted Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat vessels when fishing recreationally. The limits are effective […]
California Fines San Diego Fishermen in Poaching Bust
In a significant move to curb illegal fishing, California authorities have busted and fined a group of San Diego fishermen $145,000 for their roles in an elaborate poaching operation. The fishermen were caught illegally harvesting and selling bluefin tuna, yellowtail, and mahi-mahi without the necessary permits and documentation. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) […]
No Protection for Overfished Atlantic Blue Marlin as Protections for Sharks Grow Stronger
The Final Amendment 15 was recently issued by NMFS and fails to provide protections for overfished blue marlin. Instead, the text reflects the government’s lack of understanding of the highly migratory nature of blue marlin, treating them more like residential sailfish. The text even fails to reflect a general understanding of billfishing, insinuating that all […]
Closure of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category in Southern New England Area
The Southern New England Area Trophy Bluefin Tuna Angling Category will be closed from May 2, 2024, 11:30 pm – December 31, 2024. The 2.3-mt subquota has been reached and exceeded based on available landings information from NOAA. All Highly Migratory Species Angling category permitted vessels, as well as Highly Migratory Species charter and headboat […]
Recreational Vessels Temporarily Allowed to Fish in California Conservation Area
As of April 1st, recreational vessels are now permitted to fish for pelagic and non-groundfish species within the Recreational Rockfish Conservation Area, including anchoring overnight. NOAA Fisheries enacted an emergency regulation (89 FR 22352; April 1, 2024) temporarily altering a continuous transit rule for recreational vessels in California. Effective until September 30, 2024, vessels are […]
Hudson Canyon Marine Sanctuary Update
Last week, stakeholders convened at Monmouth University for a one-day meeting to discuss the proposed Hudson Canyon Marine Sanctuary. The Hudson Canyon, located off the New York and New Jersey coast, holds immense ecological and socio-economic importance. The proposed sanctuary boundaries and management have yet to be set and one of the goals of the […]
New Striped Marlin Study
Scientists have recently discovered that predatory fish, such as the striped marlin, use rapid color changes to coordinate their attacks on prey. The study found that the marlins use these color changes to communicate with each other during hunting, allowing them to work together more effectively. By adjusting their color patterns, the fish are able […]
NOAA Fisheries Announces Mistakes From Past Recreational Fishing Effort Survey
NOAA announced a large-scale follow-up study after results from its recreational fishing effort survey suggested the order of the questions in the survey may lead to an overestimation of fishing effort. Published in August 2023, “Evaluating Measurement Error in the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey” was one of several studies NOAA Fisheries conducted to evaluate sources […]
Bluefin Tuna Closure for Angling Category
Based on the best available landings information from NOAA Fisheries, the 2.3-mt sub-quota of the Southern Area Trophy Fishery has been reached and exceeded. Effective as of February 9th, 2024, the closure will remain throughout the rest of the year, officially ending on December 31st, 2024. The area in question is defined as south of […]
Closure of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category (Commercial) Fishery
The general category of Bluefin tuna will be closed from January 26th, 2024, to March 31st, 2024 based on the most recent landings information. The available data projected the 58.2-mt quota would be reached and exceeded during this time period. All Atlantic Tunas General category permitted vessels, as well as highly migratory species charter and […]
