Closure of Bluefin Tuna General Category Fishery for September 2019 Subquota Period

NOAA Fisheries has transferred 60 metric tons (mt) to the General category Atlantic bluefin tuna September subquota period from the Reserve category. With that transfer complete, the General category bluefin fishery will close effective 11:30 p.m. on September 13, 2019. 

The General category bluefin tuna fishery will reopen on October 1, 2019. The baseline quota for the October–November time period will be 72.2 mt, with the default daily retention limit of one fish. 

This action applies to commercial General category permitted vessels and to HMS Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for bluefin tuna. Persons aboard vessels permitted in the Atlantic Tunas General and Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat categories may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna after 11:30 p.m. September 13, 2019 and through September 30, 2019.