Federal Register #2026-21450

NOAA closes Atlantic bluefin tuna General category fishery

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), announced a regulatory closure of the Atlantic bluefin tuna General category fishery. - Government buyer and issuing office: U.S. Department of Commerce; NOAA; NMFS. - Action: The General category fishery is closed because its subquota is projected to be reached. - Restrictions: Covered commercially permitted vessels may not retain, possess, or land large medium and giant bluefin tuna measuring 73 inches or greater during the closure. - Remaining fishing days: The remaining restricted-fishing days are waived. Permitted fishermen may still tag and release bluefin tuna of any size under applicable requirements. - Reopening: The fishery automatically reopens for the next quota period. - Procurement scope: This is a fisheries management action, not a procurement. No OEMs, vendors, products, or services are identified.

Description

NMFS closes the General category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna for the remainder of the October through November 2026 period because the subquota is projected to be reached. Retention, possession, or landing of large medium and giant bluefin tuna (73 inches or greater) is prohibited during the closure. The action waives the previously scheduled restricted-fishing days for the remainder of the period; permitted fishermen may still tag and release bluefin tuna of all sizes under applicable program requirements. The fishery is scheduled to reopen automatically on December 1, 2026.

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