Four North Atllantic right whales.
A Northeast Fisheries Science Center biologist collecting data during buoyless lobster trap tests.
2020 Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Landings Updates
These notices are a courtesy to Atlantic tuna fishery interests to keep you informed about the fishery. Official notice of federal fishery actions is made through a filing with the Office of the Federal Register.
These reports should not be considered useful for real-time catch monitoring purposes. It only includes landings reported to NOAA Fisheries to date. The numbers are considered preliminary and are subject to change. Catch statistics from previous months are available below or by contacting Brad McHale at (978) 281-9260.
2020 Bluefin Tuna Fishing Year Summary
January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Posted June 1, 2021
Quota category |
Landings - No. of Fish |
Landings - Weight (mt) |
2020 BaseQuota (mt) |
2020 Adjusted Quota2 (mt) |
% BaseQuota Taken |
% Adjusted Quota Taken |
|
General |
4503 |
855.3 |
555.7 |
846.5 |
153.9 |
101.0 |
|
Harpoon |
547 |
78.9 |
46.0 |
76 |
171.5 |
103.8 |
|
Longline (incl NED) |
258 |
50.7 |
188.6 |
188.6 |
26.9 |
26.9 |
|
NED |
0 |
0.0 |
25.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Atlantic (non-NED) |
248 |
47.6 |
106.3 |
106.3 |
44.9 |
44.9 |
|
Gulf |
10 |
3.1 |
57.3 |
57.3 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
|
Trap |
2 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
41.7 |
41.7 |
|
Purse Seine |
0 |
0 |
219.5 |
55.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Angling |
9,829 |
202.9 |
232.4 |
232.4 |
87.3 |
87.3 |
|
School |
7710 |
81.2 |
127.3 |
127.3 |
63.8 |
63.8 |
|
Lg sch/Sm med |
1,960 |
112.3 |
99.8 |
99.8 |
112.5 |
112.5 |
|
Trophy |
35 |
8.8 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
166.0 |
166.0 |
|
Reserve |
1 |
0.2 |
29.5 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
40.0 |
|
Total (landings only) |
15,139 |
1188.5 |
1,272.9 |
1,400.2 |
93.4 |
84.9 |
|
Total (landings + dead discards)1 |
1193.8 |
1,272.9 |
1,400.2 |
93.8 |
85.3 |
|
1 The draft 2020 estimate of dead discards for the pelagic longline fishery is 5.3 mt.
2 The “Adjusted Quota” column gives the adjusted quota as of December 31, 2020. Category quotas were adjusted during the year as shown below.
EFFECTIVE DATE |
ADDED (MT) |
TO |
SUBTRACTED (MT) |
FROM |
PUBLICATION DATE |
FR CITATION |
ACTION |
|
01/01/2020 |
19.5 |
General January time period |
19.5 |
General December time period |
01/02/2020 |
85 FR 17 |
Inseason Transfer |
|
02/05/2020 |
164.5 |
Reserve |
164.5 |
Purse Seine |
02/06/2020 |
85 FR 6828 |
Annual Adjustment |
|
51.0 |
General |
51.0 |
Reserve |
Inseason Transfer |
|||
|
07/13/2020 |
30.0 |
Harpoon |
30.0 |
Reserve |
07/16/2020 |
85 FR 43148 |
Inseason Transfer |
|
09/17/2020 |
111.6 |
General |
111.6 |
Reserve |
09/22/2020 |
85 FR 59445 |
Inseason Transfer |
|
10/01/2020 |
127.3 |
Reserve |
NA |
NA |
10/01/2020 |
85 FR 61972 |
2019 Underharvest Carryover |
|
10/09/2020 |
40.0 |
General |
40.0 |
Reserve |
10/13/2020 |
85 FR 64411 |
Inseason Transfer |
|
10/26/2020 |
68.7 |
General |
68.7 |
Reserve |
10/30/2020 |
85 FR 68798 |
Inseason Transfer |
|
12/01/2020 |
19.5 |
General |
19.5 |
Reserve |
11/27/2020 |
85 FR 75918 |
Inseason Transfer |
January 1 to December 31
Posted February 12, 2021
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Adjusted Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
4,502 |
417.4 |
852.3 |
846.5 |
4,703 |
381.3 |
814.5 |
|
Handline |
61 |
355.9 |
9.9 |
|
0 |
- |
- |
|
Harpoon |
43 |
355.8 |
6.5 |
|
125 |
279.8 |
15.9 |
|
Rod and Reel |
4,398 |
419.0 |
835.9 |
|
4,578 |
384.6 |
798.6 |
|
Harpoon |
546 | 316.6 | 78.5 |
76.0 |
737 | 306.2 | 102.4 |
|
Longline (incl NED) |
256 |
433.4 |
50.4 |
188.6 |
445 |
428.3 |
86.3 |
|
Trap |
2 |
589.4 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
1 |
591.3 |
0.3 |
|
Purse Seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
20.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
5,306 |
407.8 |
981.7 |
1,167.8 |
5,886 |
375.9 |
1,003.5 |
January 1 to November 30
Posted January 5
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Adjusted Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
4,346 |
415.8 |
819.7 |
827.0 |
4,588 |
380.4 |
791.6 |
|
Handline |
99 |
386.2 |
17.3 |
|
0 |
- |
- |
|
Harpoon |
44 |
339.6 |
6.8 |
|
125 |
279.8 |
15.9 |
|
Rod and Reel |
4,203 |
417.3 |
795.6 |
|
4,463 |
383.2 |
775.8 |
|
Harpoon |
547 | 317.0 | 78.8 |
76.0 |
737 | 306.2 | 102.4 |
|
Longline (incl NED) |
245 |
430.0 |
47.9 |
188.6 |
440 |
428.0 |
85.3 |
|
Trap |
2 |
589.4 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
1 |
591.3 |
0.3 |
|
Purse Seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
20.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
5,141 |
406.0 |
946.8 |
1,167.8 |
5,766 |
374.6 |
979.6 |
January 1 to October 31
Posted December 10
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Adjusted Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
4,240 |
413.5 |
795.3 |
827.0 |
4,588 |
380.4 |
791.6 |
|
Handline |
91 |
378.0 |
15.6 |
|
0 |
- |
- |
|
Harpoon |
44 |
339.6 |
6.8 |
|
125 |
279.8 |
15.9 |
|
Rod and Reel |
4,105 |
415.1 |
772.9 |
|
4,463 |
383.2 |
775.8 |
|
Harpoon |
547 | 317.0 | 78.8 |
76 |
737 | 306.2 | 102.4 |
|
Longline (incl NED) |
242 |
426.2 |
46.9 |
188.6 |
432 |
426.8 |
83.5 |
|
Trap |
2 |
589.4 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
1 |
591.3 |
0.3 |
|
Purse Seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
20.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
5,301 |
403.7 |
921.4 |
1,167.8 |
4,725 |
374.4 |
977.8 |
January 1 to September 30
Posted November 30
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Base Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
3,723 |
408.7 |
690.1 |
718.3 |
3,577 |
377.8 |
612.8 |
|
Handline |
83 |
378.1 |
14.2 |
|
0 |
- |
- |
|
Harpoon |
44 |
339.6 |
6.8 |
|
125 |
279.8 |
15.9 |
|
Rod and Reel |
3,596 |
410.2 |
669.1 |
|
3,452 |
381.3 |
596.9 |
|
Harpoon |
547 | 317.0 | 78.8 |
76 |
737 | 306.2 | 102.4 |
|
Longline (incl NED) |
239 |
425.1 |
46.2 |
188.6 |
410 |
417.3 |
77.5 |
|
Trap |
2 |
589.4 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
1 |
591.3 |
0.3 |
|
Purse Seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
1.4 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
4,511 |
398.5 |
815.6 |
1040.5 |
4,725 |
370.1 |
792.9 |
January 1 to August 31
Posted October 13
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Base Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
2,459 |
396.9 |
442.6 |
606.7 |
2,262 |
376.7 |
386.4 |
|
Handline |
70 |
359.9 |
11.4 |
|
0 |
- |
- |
|
Harpoon |
43 |
337.7 |
6.6 |
|
124 |
279.9 |
15.8 |
|
Rod and Reel |
2,346 |
399.0 |
424.7 |
|
2,138 |
382.4 |
370.7 |
|
Harpoon |
547 | 317.0 | 78.8 |
76 |
737 | 306.2 | 102.4 |
|
Longline (incl NED) |
239 |
425.1 |
46.2 |
188.6 |
396 |
413.5 |
74.2 |
|
Trap |
2 |
589.4 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
1 |
591.3 |
0.3 |
|
Purse Seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
113.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
3,247 |
385.6 |
568.1 |
1040.5 |
3,396 |
365.8 |
563.2 |
January 1 to July 31
Posted September 24
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Base Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
1,069 |
428.7 |
208.0 |
606.7 |
1,776 |
376.7 |
303.3 |
|
Handline |
38 |
360.5 |
6.2 |
|
0 |
- |
- |
|
Harpoon |
38 |
343.6 |
5.9 |
|
119 |
277.8 |
15.0 |
|
Rod and Reel |
993 |
434.3 |
196.0 |
|
1,657 |
383.8 |
288.4 |
|
Harpoon |
503 | 318.6 | 72.8 |
76 |
560 | 296.7 | 75.3 |
|
Longline (incl NED) |
214 |
463.5 |
45.0 |
188.6 |
388 |
416.0 |
73.1 |
|
Trap |
2 |
589.4 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
1 |
591.3 |
0.3 |
|
Purse Seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
113.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
1,788 |
402.0 |
326.4 |
1040.5 |
2,725 |
365.9 |
452.0 |
January 1 to June 30
Posted August 10
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Base Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
612 |
481.3 |
133.6 |
606.7 |
741 |
406.2 |
136.5 |
|
Handline |
10 |
292.0 |
1.3 |
|
0 |
- |
- |
|
Harpoon |
16 |
373.0 |
2.7 |
|
43 |
310.0 |
6.1 |
|
Rod and Reel |
586 |
487.5 |
129.7 |
|
698 |
412.1 |
130.5 |
|
Harpoon |
153 | 360.6 | 25.1 |
46.0 |
116 | 322.6 | 16.9 |
|
Longline (incl NED) |
174 |
453.6 |
35.8 |
188.6 |
269 |
441.0 |
53.7 |
|
Trap |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
1.2 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Purse Seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
143.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
939 |
456.5 |
194.7 |
1040.5 |
1,126 |
405.9 |
207.2 |
January 1 to May 31
Posted July 17
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Base Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
544 |
502.2 |
123.9 |
606.7 |
564 |
425.6 |
108.9 |
|
Handline |
1 |
237.5 |
0.1 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Harpoon |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Rod and Reel |
543 |
502.7 |
123.8 |
|
564 |
425.6 |
108.9 |
|
Harpoon |
46.0 |
||||||
|
Longline (incl NED) |
137 |
471.7 |
29.3 |
188.6 |
201 |
453.4 |
41.3 |
|
Trap |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
1.2 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Purse Seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
143.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
681 |
496.0 |
153.2 |
1040.5 |
765 |
432.9 |
150.2 |
January 1 to April 30
Posted June 5
|
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Adjusted Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
544 |
502.2 |
124.1 |
606.7 |
564 |
425.6 |
108.9 |
|
Handline |
1 |
237.5 |
0.1 |
|
20 |
438.7 |
4.0 |
|
Harpoon |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Rod and reel |
543 |
502.7 |
123.9 |
|
544 |
425.1 |
104.9 |
|
Harpoon |
46.0 |
||||||
|
Longline (incl NED) |
127 |
478.5 |
27.6 |
188.6 |
138 |
451.0 |
28.2 |
|
Trap |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
1.2 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Purse seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
143.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
671 |
497.7 |
151.6 |
1040.5 |
702 |
430.6 |
137.1 |
January 1 to March 31
Posted May 18
|
Quota Category |
Current Year 2020 |
Previous Year 2019 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Adjusted Quota |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
|
|
General |
544 |
502.2 |
124.1 |
606.7 |
564 |
425.6 |
108.9 |
|
Handline |
1 |
237.5 |
0.1 |
|
20 |
438.7 |
4.0 |
|
Harpoon |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Rod and reel |
543 |
502.7 |
123.9 |
|
544 |
425.1 |
104.9 |
|
Harpoon |
46.0 |
||||||
|
Longline (incl NED) |
106 |
490.5 |
23.6 |
188.6 |
105 |
469.5 |
22.3 |
|
Trap |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
1.2 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Purse seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
143.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
650 |
500.3 |
147.6 |
1040.5 |
669 |
432.5 |
131.2 |
January 1 to February 29
Posted April 6
| Current Year—2020 | Previous Year—2019 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Quota Category |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Base Quota |
2019 Count of Fish |
2019 Avg. Weight (lb) |
2019 Gross Weight (mt) |
|
General |
544 |
502.2 |
123.9 |
606.7 |
564 |
425.6 |
108.9 |
|
Handline |
1 |
237.5 |
0.1 |
|
20 |
438.7 |
4.0 |
|
Harpoon |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Rod and reel |
543 |
502.7 |
123.8 |
|
544 |
425.1 |
104.9 |
|
Harpoon |
46.0 |
||||||
|
Longline (incl NED) |
74 |
464.4 |
15.6 |
188.6 |
65 |
493.9 |
14.6 |
|
Trap |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
1.2 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Purse seine |
|
|
55.0 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
143.0 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
618 |
497.7 |
139.5 |
1040.5 |
629 |
432.6 |
123.4 |
January 1 to January 31
Posted March 11
| Current Year—2020 | Previous Year—2019 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Quota Category |
Count of Fish |
Avg. Weight (lb) |
Gross Weight (mt) |
Base Quota |
2019 Count of Fish |
2019 Avg. Weight (lb) |
2019 Gross Weight (mt) |
|
General |
108 |
453.1 |
22.2 |
555.7 |
97 |
456.7 |
20.1 |
|
Handline |
1 |
237.5 |
0.1 |
|
3 |
511.7 |
0.7 |
|
Harpoon |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Rod and reel |
107 |
455.2 |
22.1 |
|
94 |
454.9 |
19.4 |
|
Harpoon |
46.0 |
||||||
|
Longline (incl NED) |
23 |
445.1 |
4.7 |
188.6 |
31 |
523.4 |
7.4 |
|
Trap |
0 |
- |
0.0 |
1.2 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Purse seine |
|
|
219.5 |
|
|||
|
Reserve |
|
29.5 |
|
||||
|
Total (landings only) |
131 |
451.8 |
26.9 |
1040.5 |
128 |
472.8 |
27.5 |
Inseason Transfers
| Effective Date | Added (mt) | To | Subtracted (mt) | From | Publication Date | FR Citation | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2020 | 19.5 | General January time period | 19.5 | General December time period | 01/02/2020 | 85 FR 17 | Inseason transfer |
| 02/05/2020 | 164.5 | Reserve | 164.5 | Purse Seine | 02/06/2020 | 85 FR 6828 | Annual adjustment |
| 02/05/2020 | 51.0 | General | 51.0 | Reserve | 02/06/2020 | 85 FR 6828 | Inseason transfer |
| 07/13/2020 | 30.0 | Harpoon | 30.0 | Reserve | 07/16/2020 | 85 FR 43148 | Inseason transfer |
| 09/17/2020 | 111.6 | General | 111.6 | Reserve | 09/22/2020 | 85 FR 59445 | Inseason transfer |
| 10/01/2020 | 127.3 | Reserve | N/A | N/A | 10/01/2020 | 85 FR 61972 | 2019 Underharvest Carryover |
| 10/09/2020 | 40.0 | General | 40.0 | Reserve | 10/13/2020 | 85 FR 64411 | Inseason transfer |
| 10/26/2020 | 68.7 | General | 68.7 | Reserve | 10/30/2020 | 85 FR 68798 | Inseason transfer |
| 12/01/2020 | 19.5 | General | 19.5 | Reserve | 11/27/2020 | 85 FR 75918 | Inseason transfer |
Four North Atllantic right whales.
A Northeast Fisheries Science Center biologist collecting data during buoyless lobster trap tests.
