Southern Bluefin Tuna Trophy Fishery Slammed Shut for 2025
Published Date: 3/5/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting February 28, 2025, the southern area trophy fishery for big Atlantic bluefin tuna will be closed for the rest of the year. This affects recreational anglers and charter boats with special permits, stopping them from catching these giant tunas to protect the population. No money changes hands directly, but fishers will need to plan around this closure to avoid penalties.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Southern trophy bluefin fishery closed
If you fish recreationally under an HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permit, you may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (trophy fish measuring 73 inches / 185 cm curved fork length or greater) south of 39°18' N latitude and outside the Gulf of Mexico starting at 11:30 p.m. local time on February 28, 2025, through December 31, 2025. The closure was issued because the southern-area trophy subquota of 2.3 metric tons has been reached and exceeded.
Catch-and-release allowed with handling and reporting rules
During the closure you may continue to catch and release (or tag and release) bluefin tuna of all sizes, but all released fish must be handled to maximize survival and not removed from the water per Sec. 635.21(a)(1). Owners of HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels must report the catch of all bluefin tuna retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of landing or trip end using https://hmspermits.noaa.gov, the HMS Catch Reporting app, or by calling (888) 872-8862.
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