2023 Commercial Atlantic Bigeye, Northern Albacore, Skipjack, and Yellowfin Tuna Landings Updates

Catch statistics from previous months are available below or by contacting the Highly Migratory Species Management Division at (978) 281-9260.

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

Below are the preliminary landings estimates for the Atlantic bigeye, northern albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack (BAYS) tunas commercial fisheries. These preliminary estimates are based on dealer reports and other information, and include landings for the Atlantic including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Also, these estimates are subject to late reporting and do not include discards.

Each year, NOAA Fisheries updates the annual northern albacore quota to account for under- or overharvest, if any, of the previous year’s adjusted U.S. northern albacore quota consistent with International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas limits. These updates typically take effect in summer.

Totals are reported in metric tons (mt) and pounds (lb) whole weight (ww); 1 mt is equal to 2,204.6 lb.

January 1 - December 31

Posted January 24, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	682.5 mt (1,504,589 lb)	NA	646.4 mt (1,425,036 lb)
Northern Albacore*	889.4 mt (1,960,771 lb)	164.8 mt (363,283 lb)	19%	140.4 mt (309,527 lb)
Yellowfin	---	730.6 mt (1,610,749 lb)	NA	759.0 mt (1,673,264 lb)
Skipjack	---	2.8 mt (6,226 lb)	NA	3.8 mt (8,391 lb)

*On September 20, 2023 (88 FR 64831), NOAA Fisheries adjusted the 2023 annual northern albacore quota from 711.5 mt to 889.4 mt to include the 177.9 mt of 2022 underharvest the United States could carry forward from 2022.

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - November 20

Posted December 18, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	645.0 mt (1,421,958 lb)	NA	625.3 mt (1,378,606 lb)
Northern Albacore*	889.4 mt (1,960,771 lb)	159.1 mt (350,639 lb)	18%	131.3 mt (289,362 lb)
Yellowfin	---	687.4 mt (1,515,480 lb)	NA	715.9 mt (1,578,321 lb)
Skipjack	---	2.8 mt (6,226 lb)	NA	3.8 mt (8,388 lb)

*On September 20, 2023 (88 FR 64831), NOAA Fisheries adjusted the 2023 annual northern albacore quota from 711.5 mt to 889.4 mt to include the 177.9 mt of 2022 underharvest the United States could carry forward from 2022.

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - October 31

Posted November 17, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	596.9 mt (1,316,028 lb)	NA	547.2 mt (1,206,848 lb)
Northern Albacore*	889.4 mt (1,960,771 lb)	146.9 mt (323,953 lb)	17%	120.1 mt (264,852 lb)
Yellowfin	---	633.3 mt (1,396,194 lb)	NA	671.2 mt (1,479,685 lb)
Skipjack	---	2.7 mt (5,945 lb)	NA	3.7 mt (8,209 lb)

*On September 20, 2023 (88 FR 64831), NOAA Fisheries adjusted the 2023 annual northern albacore quota from 711.5 mt to 889.4 mt to include the 177.9 mt of 2022 underharvest the United States could carry forward from 2022.

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - September 30

Posted October 19, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	442.8 mt (976,202 lb)	NA	446.1 mt (983,418 lb)
Northern Albacore*	889.4 mt (1,960,771 lb)	131.3 mt (289,420 lb)	15%	109.7 mt (241,910 lb)
Yellowfin	---	500.3 mt (1,103,031 lb)	NA	581.0 mt (1,280,893 lb)
Skipjack	---	2.2 mt (4,941 lb)	NA	3.6 mt (7,991 lb)

*On September 20, 2023 (88 FR 64831), NOAA Fisheries adjusted the 2023 annual northern albacore quota from 711.5 mt to 889.4 mt to include the 177.9 mt of 2022 underharvest the United States could carry forward from 2022.

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - August 31

Posted September 20, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	348.4 mt (767,994 lb)	NA	328.4 mt (724,023 lb)
Northern Albacore	711.5 mt (1,568,573 lb)	125.6 mt (276,993 lb)	18%	101.9 mt (224,556 lb)
Yellowfin	---	397.1 mt (875,458 lb)	NA	504.6 mt (1,112,330 lb)
Skipjack	---	2.1 mt (4,590 lb)	NA	3.6 mt (7,892 lb)

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - July 31

Posted August 15, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	117.0 mt (257,967 lb)	NA	171.5 mt (378,063 lb)
Northern Albacore	711.5 mt (1,568,573 lb)	123.5 mt (272,333 lb)	17%	98.5 mt (217,143 lb)
Yellowfin	---	301.7 mt (665,112 lb)	NA	384.7 mt (848,000 lb)
Skipjack	---	1.4 mt (3,025 lb)	NA	3.2 mt (7,036 lb)

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - June 30

Posted July 19, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	75.0 mt (165,425 lb)	NA	88.0 mt (193,919 lb)
Northern Albacore	711.5 mt (1,568,573 lb)	111.5 mt (245,902 lb)	16%	94.5 mt (208,237 lb)
Yellowfin	---	210.0 mt (462,923 lb)	NA	267.4 mt (589,441 lb)
Skipjack	---	1.3 mt (2,850 lb)	NA	3.2 mt (7,036 lb)

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - May 31

Posted July 19, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	53.1 mt (117,036 lb)	NA	55.7 mt (122,889 lb)
Northern Albacore	711.5 mt (1,568,573 lb)	104.0 mt (229,258 lb)	15%	88.1 mt (194,117 lb)
Yellowfin	---	139.4 mt (307,201 lb)	NA	158.2 mt (348,768 lb)
Skipjack	---	1.3 mt (2,794 lb)	NA	2.1 mt (4,691 lb)

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - April 30

Posted May 16, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	39.3 mt (86,260 lb)	NA	46.0 mt (101,468 lb)
Northern Albacore	711.5 mt (1,568,573 lb)	81.8 mt (180,276 lb)	13%	74.7 mt (164,594 lb)
Yellowfin	---	94.9 mt (209,172 lb)	NA	97.6 mt (215,102 lb)
Skipjack	---	<1.0 mt (<2,204 lb)	NA	1.4 mt (3,146 lb)

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - March 31

Posted April 28, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	29.5 mt (65,051 lb)	NA	37.0 mt (81,643 lb)
Northern Albacore	711.5 mt (1,568,573 lb)	46.6 mt (102,780 lb)	10%	46.8 mt (103,164 lb)
Yellowfin	---	60.0 mt (132,245 lb)	NA	74.6 mt (164,431 lb)
Skipjack	---	<1.0 mt (<2,205 lb)	NA	<1.0 mt (<2,205 lb)

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date.

January 1 - February 28

Posted May 2, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	25.0 mt (50,046 lb)	NA	29.9 mt (65,913 lb)
Northern Albacore	632.4 mt (1,394,189 lb)	31.4 mt (69,322 lb)	5%	22.4 mt (49,311 lb)
Yellowfin	---	44.2 mt (97,398 lb)	NA	53.8 mt (118,577 lb)
Skipjack	---	<1.0 mt (<2,205 lb)	NA	<1.0 mt (<2,205 lb)

† Due to delays in availability, landings estimates for the Caribbean may not include all data through the current date

January 1 - January 31

Posted May 2, 2023

Species	2023 Quota (ww)	Estimated Landings in 2023 (ww) ^†	Percent of 2023 Quota	2022 Landings through the Same Time Period (ww)
Bigeye	---	16.8 mt (36,918 lb)	NA	15.4 mt (34,014 lb)
Northern Albacore	632.4 mt (1,394,189 lb)	8.5 mt (18,681 lb)	1%	4.4 mt (9,791 lb)
Yellowfin	---	21.0 mt (46,392 lb)	NA	27.5 mt (60,629 lb)
Skipjack	---	<1.0 mt (<2,205 lb)	NA	<1 mt (<2,205 lb)

Last updated by Office of Sustainable Fisheries on 01/24/2024

Landings