Fishing Tournaments Must Register Catches with NOAA
Published Date: 5/1/2026
Notice
Summary
If you run a fishing tournament for big ocean fish like swordfish or tuna, you need to register your event and report your catch to NOAA. This update keeps the rules clear and easy, asking for info like dates and locations, with just a quick registration and a short report after the tournament. About 300 tournament operators will spend a little time on this each year, helping NOAA protect our ocean giants without breaking the bank or your schedule.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory HMS Tournament Registration and Reports
If you run a tournament for Atlantic highly migratory species, you must register the event at least four weeks before it starts and, if selected, submit a tournament summary report within seven days after tournament fishing ends. NOAA estimates 300 tournament operators will respond annually, with registration taking about 2 minutes and the post-tournament summary about 20 minutes, for a total annual burden of 110 hours.
Updated Target Species List on Registration
NOAA will update the tournament registration form's target species list to reflect current species categories you must report when registering a tournament. This change is part of the revision and extension of the current information collection (OMB Control Number 0648-0323).
Collect Vessel Effort by State Residency
The revised reporting requires tournament operators to report vessel effort by participant state residency (in-state vs. out-of-state). You will need to record and report residency status as part of tournament catch reporting.
Bluefin Tuna Reporting by Size Class
Tournament post-event reports will now require reporting bluefin tuna catch by size class, so you must classify and record bluefin tuna by size when submitting your summary report.
Clarified Species Reporting for Lengths and Weights
NOAA clarified which species require individual lengths and weights in post-tournament catch reports, changing which fish you must measure and record after a tournament.
New Questions on Depredation by Marine Animals
The revised post-tournament summary will add questions about depredation of tournament catch by sharks, other fish, or marine animals, so you must report if and how catches were depredated.
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