Changes to Pacific Bigeye Tuna Longline Catch Limit
Summary
NOAA Fisheries announces an interim final rule establishing new limits on U.S. longline catch of bigeye tuna. The limits apply to bigeye tuna caught in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and on the high seas in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Area.
This rule is necessary to implement recent decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, known as the WCPFC.
In December 2023, the commission implemented new conservation and management measures that support sustainable fishing of bigeye tuna. The measures set the U.S. catch limit at 6,554 metric tons per calendar year. The previous U.S. catch limit was 3,554 metric tons per calendar year.
NOAA Fisheries welcomes comments on the interim final rule through September 5, 2024.