Quota Transfer: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Harpoon Category Fishery

NOAA Fisheries is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna Harpoon category quota by transferring quota from the Reserve category. This action provides further opportunities for Harpoon category fishermen to participate in the Harpoon category fishery, which began on June 1, 2026.

The resulting adjusted quotas are:

• Harpoon category quota: 65.6 mt
• Reserve category quota: 1 mt

Separate from this action, NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rulemaking that would implement the 2025 ICCAT recommendation (Recommendation 25-05) regarding western bluefin tuna management (91 FR 24789, May 7, 2026).

Consistent with that recommendation, the proposed rule would increase the baseline U.S. bluefin tuna quota from 1,316.14 mt to 1,509.98 mt and adjust all the subquotas accordingly. The comment period on that proposed rule ended on June 8, 2026 and NOAA Fisheries is working on the final rule.

Permits Affected:

Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category

For further information please call (301) 427-8503.