NOAA Fisheries Adjusts Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Harpoon Category Quota

NOAA Fisheries is transferring 30 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota to the Harpoon category from the Reserve category. With this transfer, the adjusted Harpoon category quota is 76 mt for the remainder of the 2020 fishing season. The adjusted Reserve category quota is 113 mt. The transfer will be in effect through November 15, 2020, or until the Harpoon category quota is reached, whichever comes first.

Who is affected?

This action applies only to commercial vessels with an Atlantic tunas Harpoon category permit.  

Catch reporting

Dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of receiving bluefin tuna. Late dealer reporting compromises NOAA Fisheries’ ability to implement actions such as quota and retention limit adjustments or fishery closures and may result in enforcement actions. 

Separate from the dealer reporting requirement, Harpoon category permitted vessel owners are required to report the catch of all bluefin tuna retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip by:

• Accessing the HMS Permit Shop.
• Using the HMS Catch Reporting app.
• Calling 888-872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.)