Closure of General Category Bluefin Fishery for October–November 2019 Subquota Period

The General category bluefin fishery will be closed for the October through November subquota period effective 11:30 p.m. on October 13, 2019. 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 beginning at that time. 

The General category bluefin tuna fishery will reopen on December 1, 2019, with the default limit of one fish.

The closure was made because we expect that the General category October through November adjusted subquota of 172.2 mt—the total following a recent transfer—will be reached. Our assessment was made based on the best available landings information, as well as average catch rates and anticipated fishing conditions.