Bluefin Tuna Purse Seine Reallocation and Quota Transfer

The Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Purse Seine and Reserve category quotas for 2019 have been adjusted. NOAA Fisheries is also transferring 25 metric tons (mt) of BFT quota from the Reserve category to the General category January 2019 period (from January 1 through March 31, 2019 or until the available subquota for this period is reached, whichever comes first). 

The transfer to the General category is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.