Closure: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category (Commercial) Fishery and Angling Category (Recreational) Southern Area Trophy Fishery

REASON FOR CLOSURE:

Based on the best available landings information, the quotas for both the Atlantic bluefin tuna General category (commercial) January through March fishery and Angling category (recreational) southern area fishery have been reached and exceeded.

CLOSED: February 28, 2025, 11:30 pm

PERMITS AFFECTED:

COMMERCIAL: Commercial fishermen aboard vessels with an Atlantic Tunas General category or Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna from 11:30 p.m., February 28, 2025 through March 31, 2025.

The General category bluefin tuna fishery will automatically reopen on June 1, 2025.

RECREATIONAL: Recreational fishermen aboard vessels with an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Angling category or HMS Charter/Headboat permit (while fishing recreationally) may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (i.e., measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater) in the southern area from 11:30 p.m. February 28, 2025, through December 31, 2025.

Please note, that the Angling category fishery for school, large school, or small medium bluefin tuna (27 to <73”) remains open in all areas except for the Gulf of America, which is designated as bluefin tuna spawning grounds and where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna. The Angling category bluefin tuna trophy fisheries (73” and above) remain open for the Gulf of Maine, Southern New England, and Gulf of America areas (in the Gulf of America trophy area bluefin may be landed if caught incidentally while targeting other species).

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.