Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Harpoon Category Closure
NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Department announced today the closure of the Harpoon category for Atlantic bluefin tuna due to the 91 metric ton quota being met. This closure comes just two days after NOAA HMS supplemented the Harpoon category with 15 metric tons transferred from the Reserve category. The closure will go into effect on August 8th, 2019 at 11:30pm. After this time, fishermen aboard commercial vessels with an Atlantic bluefin tuna Harpoon category permit may not retain, possess, or land medium, large, or giant bluefin tunas. The Harpoon category will remain closed until June 1, 2020
