NOAA Fisheries Adjusts Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Harpoon Category Quota to 76 mt through Quota Transfer

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 2021 fishing season. The adjusted Reserve category quota is 138
mt. The transfer will be in effect through November 15, 2021, 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.)

This notice is a courtesy to fishery participants to help keep you informed about the fishery.
Official notice of Federal fishery actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of the
Federal Register.