Opportunity
Federal Register #2026-10889
NOAA Regulatory Actions: Recreational Closure for Greater Amberjack and Bluefin Tuna Retention Limit Adjustment
Buyer
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Posted
June 01, 2026
Identifier
2026-10889
This notice details regulatory actions by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under NOAA and the Department of Commerce for the 2026-2027 fishing seasons: - Government Buyer: - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved, as this is a regulatory action, not a procurement - Products/Services Requested: - Recreational closure for greater amberjack in Gulf Federal waters - Closure period: October 14, 2026, through July 31, 2027 - Bag and possession limits set to zero during closure - Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Harpoon category retention limit adjustment - Daily retention limit reduced from 10 to 5 large medium and giant bluefin tuna per vessel - Effective June 1 through November 15, 2026 - Incidental catch limit remains two per vessel per day/trip - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Actions are taken to protect fishery resources and prevent overfishing under Magnuson-Stevens Act authority - Applies specifically to federal waters in the Gulf of America and Atlantic regions - Affects vessels with Federal charter vessel/headboat permits for Gulf reef fish and those targeting bluefin tuna - No products, part numbers, or purchase quantities are involved
Description
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implements an accountability measure (AM) to manage the recreational harvest of greater amberjack in Federal waters of the Gulf of America. The 2026-2027 fishing season begins on September 1, 2026, but is projected to reach the annual catch target (ACT) by October 14, 2026. Consequently, the recreational fishing season will be open from September 1 through October 13 and will close on October 14, 2026. This temporary closure aims to protect the greater amberjack resource and prevent overfishing.