Changes to Bluefin Tuna Commercial Handgear Fishery

Effective as of July 1st, all Atlantic Tunas General category permit holders, as well as Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permit holders commercially fishing for bluefin tunas will encounter restricted fishing days. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has stated every Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from July 1 through November 30, 2024 will now […]

TBF Legends Category Announcement

New Tag and Release Category Announced! For the upcoming 2024-2025 TBF Annual Tag & Release Competition (November 1st 2024 – October 31st, 2025), The Billfish Foundation (TBF) will be introducing a brand new “TBF Legends” category. We are excited to announce this newly achievable status and wanted to tease it here first before its official […]

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 […]

Atlantic Billfish, Swordfish, and Tunas Landings Update

NOAA Fisheries announced landings updates for Atlantic swordfish, billfish, and tunas, which includes recreational billfish and bluefin tuna landings from January 1st through June 30, 2020. But swordfish and non-bluefin tuna landings are for the period of January 1 through July 31, 2020. In general, reported landings are down compared to the same time in 2019, except for Northern Albacore, whose landings are skyrocketing compared to 2019. Swordfish landings are almost exactly the same as last year, with an uptick in commercial bycatch offset by decreases in commercial and recreational targeted landings. Billfish are currently on par to stay

General Category Bluefin Fishery Temporary Closure

The General Category for Atlantic bluefin tuna will close beginning February 24th at 11:30pm and reopen on June 1st. This closure marks the fulfillment of the 100mt January subquota, which, despite it’s name, actually runs from January through March. This closure affects vessels with an Atlantic Tunas General category permit or an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for bluefin tuna. Additionally, this closure only applies to the retention, possession, and landing of medium, large, and giant bluefin tunas. To stay up-to-date on all things billfish and highly migratory species, become a member

NOAA 2019 Commercial and Recreational Landings Updates

NOAA Fisheries announced the final landings updates for Atlantic swordfish and tunas, including bluefin. This update includes all fish landed between January 1st and December 31st, 2019. It also released updates for recreational Atlantic billfish landings between January 31st and September 30th, 2019. Final numbers for recreational Atlantic billfish landings for the entirety of 2019 are still to come. All commercial species, including North Atlantic sworfish, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, northern albacore, and bigeye tuna have experienced increased landings this year. Blue marlin, white marlin, and roundscale spearfish have also experienced increased landings (as of September 30th

ICCAT Update – Reductions for Atlantic Marlin

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is an international regional fishery management organization for highly migratory species (HMS) in the Atlantic, including billfish, tunas, and some sharks. Two additional, separate organizations for HMS operate in the Pacific Ocean and in the Indian Ocean. These three organizations were established by treaties among member nations, which meet each year to negotiate landing tonnage, as well as other management and conservation measures. They each also gather scientists each year to conduct stock assessments and make recommendations, based on science, to the managing Commission before which national delegations from

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