2023 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits

NOAA Fisheries is specifying a 2023 catch limit of 2,000 metric tons (t) for longline-caught bigeye tuna in each U.S. Pacific territory (American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Each territory may also allocate up to 1,500 t to U.S. longline fishing vessels in a specified fishing agreement that meets established criteria. However, the overall allocation limit among all territories may not exceed 3,000 t. As an accountability measure, NOAA Fisheries will monitor U.S. longline catches. If we project that the fishery will reach the territorial or allocation limit, we will prohibit retention of bigeye tuna. These catch limits and accountability measures support the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.

Read the Federal Register notice and supporting documentation