In an email bulletin on July 1, NOAA Fisheries announced the closure of the trophy bluefin fishery for the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category in the Southern New England Area effective July 3.
Don’t fret folks, this “sub-quota” allowance for giant bluefin typically closes every year at this time, and doesn’t affect the established Angling Category fishery for school, large school, or small medium bluefin tuna (27 to <73 inches).
The Southern New England area is defined as the area south of 42° N. lat. and north of 39°18′ N. lat. The sub-quota for Atlantic bluefin tuna above 73 inches in length is referred to as the “Trophy Category” and because that small piece of the overall bluefin harvest is extremely limited, recreational vessels are only allowed to retain one “not for sale” fish in this category per year until the sub-quota is fully utilized.
“Based on the best available landings information, the Southern New England Area trophy subquota has been reached and exceeded,” NOAA Fisheries stated in its release, explaining how recreational fishermen aboard vessels with an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Angling category or Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permit (while fishing recreationally) may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater in the Southern New England.
Learn more and purchase your vessel’s highly migratory species permit for tuna fishing at hmspermits.noaa.gov.
