Tuna Catch-and-Release Only: Quota Blues for December
Published Date: 12/8/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting December 5, 2025, at 11:30 p.m., the General category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna will close for the rest of December. This means commercial fishermen with the right permits can’t keep or sell big bluefin tuna until the fishery reopens on January 1, 2026. During the closure, they can only catch and release tuna, helping protect this valuable fish while still letting fishermen enjoy the sport.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
December commercial closure for bluefin
Starting at 11:30 p.m. local time on December 5, 2025, commercial vessels with Atlantic Tunas General category permits and HMS Charter/Headboat permits (with a commercial sale endorsement) may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (measuring 73 inches / 185 cm curved fork length or greater) for the rest of December 2025. The closure runs through December 31, 2025.
Possible quota cuts and 125% payback risk
NMFS states that because 2024 and 2025 adjusted quotas may have been exceeded, it may reduce category quotas for 2025 and that, under ICCAT requirements, the United States could be required to pay back 125 percent of the second year's (2025) overharvest in 2026. NMFS may take later actions to reduce quotas consistent with estimated overharvest.
Catch-and-release allowed during closure
During the December 5–31, 2025 closure, permitted General category and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels fishing commercially may continue to catch, tag, and release Atlantic bluefin tuna of all sizes, but must follow the catch-and-release and tag-and-release program rules.
Automatic reopening on January 1, 2026
The General category bluefin fishery will automatically reopen on January 1, 2026, for the January–March 2026 time period, restoring the ability of the affected permitted vessels to retain, possess, and land large medium and giant BFT once the new period opens.
24-hour dealer and vessel reporting rule
Dealers must submit landing reports within 24 hours of receiving Atlantic bluefin tuna, and General category and HMS Charter/Headboat vessel owners must report retained or dead-discarded BFT within 24 hours of landing or trip end using NMFS systems (https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/home, the HMS Catch Reporting app, or 888-872-8862). Late dealer reports can lead to enforcement actions.
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