Retention Limit Adjustment: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Harpoon Category Fishery

NOAA Fisheries is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limit for the Harpoon category fishery. The adjusted limit will take effect June 1, 2026, and extend through November 15, 2026, unless modified by a later action.

As of June 1, the retention limits will be:

Harpoon category:

• 5 large medium and giant bluefin tuna (i.e., measuring 73 inches or greater curved fork length), combined, per vessel per day/trip; no more than 2 of the 5 can be large medium bluefin tuna (i.e., measuring 73 inches to less than 81 inches curved fork length)

Who is affected?

This change applies to commercial vessels with an Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permit. The daily retention limit is effective for all areas except for the Gulf of America, where NOAA Fisheries does not allow targeted fishing for bluefin tuna.

Vessels fishing recreationally for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species are not affected by these changes.