NOAA Fisheries has reallocated 164.5 metric tons (mt) of bluefin tuna quota from the Purse Seine to the Reserve category. The available quota for the 2020 Purse Seine category is now 55 mt.
We have also transferred 51 mt of quota from the 2020 Reserve category to the 2020 General category, resulting in an adjusted January subquota of 100 mt. The subquota period will end on March 31, 2020, unless the subquota is reached earlier.
After all these changes, the Reserve category quota sits at 143 mt.
Who is Affected?
This action applies to commercial General category permitted vessels, to HMS Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for bluefin tuna, and to Purse Seine category participants.
Catch Reporting
Dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of a dealer receiving bluefin tuna. Late reporting by dealers compromises our ability to timely implement actions such as quota adjustments and closures and may result in enforcement actions.
Separate from the dealer reporting requirement, General category and HMS Charter/Headboat category vessel owners are required to report their catch of all bluefin tuna retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of landing or the 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.).
