On April 14, NOAA Fisheries posted an Atlantic bluefin tuna annual catch summary report for 2024. Based on reported Atlantic bluefin tuna commercial landings and recreational landings estimates, the 2024 U.S. adjusted quota, which is established by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), has been exceeded and the Angling, General, and Harpoon categories exceeded their 2024 adjusted subquotas.
Landings for 2024, including estimated dead discards (using the 2023 dead discard estimate as a proxy), totaled 1,613.5 metric tons, which is 138.3 metric tons (9%) higher than the 2024 U.S. adjusted quota of 1,475.2 metric tons. According to NOAA Fisheries, the General, Harpoon, and Angling category quotas were exceeded by 4%, 8%, and 52%, respectively. It’s the first time in more than 20 years that the U.S. adjusted quota has been exceeded.
Recreational landings were particularly high late in 2024. Landings of school-size bluefin tuna (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches curved fork length) also exceeded the internationally-agreed limit in 2024. Because landings and dead discards exceeded the adjusted quota for 2024, there is no carryover of underharvest available for use in 2025.
NOAA Fisheries is considering options for domestic management of the 2025 Atlantic bluefin tuna quota to pay back the 2024 overharvest along with managing category quotas in 2025. The actions that NOAA Fisheries may consider for quota management include commercial and recreational retention limit adjustments; quota adjustments or transfers; and/or closures. Any action will be based on the best scientific information available and consideration of the appropriate regulatory determination criteria.
NOAA Fisheries plans to discuss bluefin tuna quota matters at the HMS Advisory Panel meeting, May 6-8, 2025, including an opportunity for public comment at the end of each meeting day.
