Retention Limit Adjustment: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Fishery
Summary
NOAA Fisheries is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limits for recreational fishermen. The adjusted limits will take effect June 3, 2025 and extend through December 31, 2025, unless modified by later action. NOAA Fisheries may need to take another action(s) later in the year, if appropriate, to further adjust the retention limits or close the fishery.
What are the retention limits?
The table below summarizes the changes to the recreational bluefin tuna retention limits. These retention limits are intended to provide a reasonable opportunity to harvest the available Angling category quota and subquotas, without exceeding them, while maintaining equitable fishing opportunities.
Vessel/Permit Type | Default Retention Limit per Vessel per Day/Trip | Adjusted Retention Limit per Vessel per Day/Trip |
|---|---|---|
Private vessels with a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category permit | 1 school, large school, or small medium (27 to <73”) | 1 school (27 to <47”) 0 large school/small medium (47 to <73”)
|
Charter boats with an HMS Charter/Headboat permit fishing recreationally | 1 school, large school, or small medium | 2 school 0 large school/small medium |
Headboats with an HMS Charter/Headboat permit fishing recreationally | 1 school, large school, or small medium | 2 school 0 large school/small medium |
Who is affected?
The changes apply to Highly Migratory Species Angling and Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally. The daily retention limits are effective for all areas except for the Gulf of America, where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna.
Catch reporting
Highly Migratory Species Angling and Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permitted vessel owners are required to report the catch of all bluefin retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip by:
- Accessing the HMS Permit Shop.
- Using the HMS Catch Reporting app.
- Calling 888-872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.).
Consistent with Executive Order (E.O.) 14172 (Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness), this document uses Gulf of America for all references to the area known as the Gulf of Mexico in the specific regulations at 50 CFR part 635.