Bluefin Tuna Season Shut Down Early for Conservation Balance
Published Date: 3/5/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting now, commercial fishermen with General category and certain charter permits can’t keep or sell big Atlantic bluefin tuna from January through March 2025. They can still catch, tag, and release these fish, but no selling until the fishery reopens on June 1, 2025. This helps protect bluefin tuna while giving fishermen clear rules and a set reopening date.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Three‑month ban on selling bluefin tuna
Starting immediately, commercial vessels with Atlantic Tunas General category permits and HMS Charter/Headboat permits with a commercial sale endorsement may NOT retain, possess, land, or sell large medium and giant Atlantic bluefin tuna from the remainder of January through March 2025. The size threshold for those fish is 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length. This restriction applies while the fishery is closed and affects commercial fishing for BFT.
Catch, tag, and release still allowed
During the closure (January through March 2025), fishermen aboard General category and applicable HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may still catch, tag, and release Atlantic bluefin tuna of all sizes, in accordance with catch‑and‑release and tag‑and‑release program requirements. Commercial sale and landing remain prohibited while closed.
Automatic June 1, 2025 reopening date
The General category Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery will reopen automatically on June 1, 2025. Permit holders can plan for the fishery to resume on that specific date unless further action is announced.
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