Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Harpoon Category Retention Limit Adjustment
§ 01 Summary
NMFS reduces the Atlantic bluefin tuna Harpoon category daily retention limit from 10 to 5 large medium or giant bluefin tuna per vessel. The lower limit applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessels from June 1, 2026, through the end of the Harpoon category season on November 15, 2026, unless further modified; the incidental catch limit of two large medium bluefin tuna remains unchanged.
§ 02 Why this matters
The rule directly changes a binding catch limit for Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessels, reducing the lawful daily retention of large medium and giant bluefin tuna from 10 to 5. This creates an immediate operational compliance constraint for the 2026 Harpoon category fishing season.
§ 03 Topics
§ 04 Affected entities
- agency: NOAA
- agency: NMFS
- industry: atlantic-bluefin-tuna-fishermen
- statute: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
- statute: Atlantic Tunas Convention Act
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§ 06 Source document
Read the full Federal Register entry on federalregister.gov.
Show classifier input (what GPT-5.5 saw)
Type: Rule Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Citation: 91 FR 32361 Title: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Harpoon Category Retention Limit Adjustment Abstract: NMFS is decreasing the Harpoon category daily retention limit from the default of no more than a combined total of 10 large medium and giant bluefin tuna (BFT) (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) or greater curved fork length (CFL)), to no more than a combined total of 5 large medium and giant BFT. The incidental catch limit of two large medium BFT per vessel per day/trip remains unchanged. This retention limit applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessels from June 1 through the remainder of the 2026 Harpoon category fishing season, which concludes on November 15, 2026, or until further modified.
Classified Jun 2, 2026 by gpt-5.5. Fetched Jun 2, 2026.
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