Feds Play Musical Chairs With Expensive Fish Quotas
Published Date: 1/13/2025
Rule
Summary
NOAA is moving 20.5 metric tons of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota from December 2025 to the January-March 2025 period. This gives commercial fishermen and charter boats with commercial endorsements more chances to catch and sell bluefin tuna early in the year. The change kicks in January 8, 2025, and lasts through March 31, 2025, helping fishermen make the most of their fishing season.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
More January–March bluefin quota
NOAA moved 20.5 metric tons (mt) of General category Atlantic bluefin tuna quota from December 2025 to the January–March 2025 period. That raises the January–March subquota to 58.2 mt (from 37.7 mt) and lowers the December subquota to 16.5 mt; the change is effective January 8, 2025 through March 31, 2025. This action applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT, and keeps the General category fishery open until March 31, 2025 or until the adjusted January–March subquota is reached.
24-hour BFT landing and catch reports
Dealers must submit landing reports within 24 hours after receiving Atlantic bluefin tuna, and General and HMS Charter/Headboat vessel owners must report all retained or dead-discarded BFT within 24 hours of landing or trip end using the HMS reporting website, approved apps, or the phone line. Late dealer reporting can compromise quota management and may result in enforcement actions; fishermen can use https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or the HMS Catch Reporting app for reporting and updates.
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