EM4Fish
The Billfish Foundation and Bluefin Data were recently showcased on EM4Fish, a website that aims to improve fisheries management as emerging technologies enable new methods for acquiring, sharing, analyzing, and utilizing data. As part of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program, Bluefin Data (BFD) and The Billfish Foundation […]
New Proposed Rule: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Electronic Reporting Requirements
NOAA Fisheries is proposing new logbook requirements for vessel owners holding specific HMS permits, including Charter/Headboat, Atlantic Tunas General category, and Swordfish General Commercial permits. Additionally, the proposal includes modifications to reporting options for private recreational vessel owners with HMS Angling permits. For individuals with an HMS Angling permit, the proposed rule mandates that reporting […]
Pacific Bluefin Tuna Recovery
The rejuvenation of Pacific bluefin tuna has surpassed all expectations, achieving a significant milestone in the recovery of the species. International organizations from across the Pacific came together and successfully managed to reverse decades of overfishing, ensuring the survival of this tuna species. The recent stock assessment conducted by the International Scientific Committee for Tuna […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Pacific Striped Marlin Rebuilding Plan
Western & Central Northern Pacific striped marlin, whose abundance, especially spawning-stock biomass, and size are greatly diminished and retain low priority within the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). This regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) is tasked with the management of this and other highly migratory species. Unfortunately, its interim rebuilding plan for the species which includes goals to be achieved by 2034 has no chance of success. More aggressive conservation and management measures by WCPFC to reduce post-release mortality need to be considered, which can be done with little impact on longlines catching its targeted species
Amendment 13 – Atlantic Bluefin Individual Tuna Quota update
Amendment 13 to the HMS Fishery Management Plan – Bluefin Tuna Earlier in May 2022, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued its Final Environmental Impact Review (FEIR) of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) program that began in 2015, and other changes in the bluefin fisheries. The purse seine fishery has been essentially inactive since 2015 due to size limits that generated a lot of regulatory discards. The FEIR includes options for the Pelagic Longline Fishery, the Purse Seine, Harpoon, and Angling Category, which includes a division of the North Trophy area into two separate designated
Changes to the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna For the Angling Category Fishery
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced increases to all Fishing Categories and has now defined what those limitations are for the Angling Category. Several months prior, TBF requested the NMFS increase the allocation of Atlantic bluefin tuna to all segments within the Recreational Fishing Category and encouraged with this announcement. The adjusted limits go into effect on May 6, 2022, and extend through December 31, 2022, unless modified by later action. The Gulf of Mexico Incidental Trophy Size Bluefin Category for anglers remains open at this time. The trophy bluefin fishery for the southern area is closed
Atlantic Bluefin December Subqota Adjustment
NOAA Fisheries transferred 19.5 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna from the Reserve Category to the General Category. This action will go into effect on December 1st, 2020 and continue for the remainder of the fishing year. As a result, the December 2020 subquota is increased to a total of 28.9 mt with the standard additional retention limit of only one fish per day per trip. Please note that this action applies only to vessels with a commercial Atlantic Tunas General category permit or Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permit with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing
