Federal Register #220919-0193

NOAA Closure of Gulf of America Trophy Bluefin Tuna Fishery (Regulatory Action)

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced a temporary closure of the Gulf of America trophy bluefin tuna fishery for the upcoming season. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - No OEMs or vendors are involved, as this is a regulatory action, not a procurement. - No products or services are being requested; this is not a purchasing opportunity. - Notable Requirements: - Closure applies to recreational and charter/headboat vessels targeting large medium and giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (73 inches or greater) - Aims to prevent overharvest of the trophy bluefin tuna subquota in the Gulf of America - During closure, only catch-and-release and tag-and-release fishing is permitted, with strict handling requirements to maximize fish survival - Locations: - Gulf of America (place of performance) - NOAA federal offices (regulatory authority) - No contract value, part numbers, or quantities are associated with this notice

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is closing the Angling category Gulf of America fishery for large medium and giant (trophy) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) measuring 73 inches or greater. This closure applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally. The closure is effective from 11:30 p.m. local time on May 21, 2026, through December 31, 2026, to prevent overharvest of the trophy BFT subquota in the Gulf of America. During the closure, catch and release of BFT of all sizes is allowed under specific handling requirements.

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