NOAA Tweaks 2025 Quotas for Albacore Tuna and Swordfish
Published Date: 12/23/2025
Rule
Summary
In 2025, the U.S. is tweaking fishing limits for North Atlantic albacore tuna, swordfish, and Atlantic bluefin tuna based on last year’s catch results and international agreements. Some quotas are going up because fish weren’t caught, while others are going down due to overfishing in 2024. These changes affect fishermen through the end of 2025, with full quotas resetting in 2026 and more updates coming soon.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
U.S. Bluefin Tuna Quota Reduced for 2025
Because U.S. bluefin tuna catch exceeded the 2024 adjusted quota by 141.2 mt, the U.S. 2025 total bluefin tuna quota is reduced by 141.2 mt to 1,199.94 mt. The reductions are applied pro rata across categories and are effective through December 31, 2025.
Large 2025 Cut for Bluefin Angling Category
The bluefin tuna Angling (recreational) category is reduced by 110.1 mt for 2025, lowering the Angling subquota from 297.4 mt to 187.3 mt. This reduction is part of the 141.2 mt total bluefin overharvest adjustment and applies through December 31, 2025.
Northern Albacore Quota Raised for 2025
For 2025, the U.S. northern albacore (northern albacore) quota is adjusted to 1,111.8 metric tons whole weight (mt ww). This equals the 889.4 mt baseline plus a 222.4 mt underharvest carryover (the maximum 25% carryover cap) and applies through December 31, 2025.
North Atlantic Swordfish Quota & Allocations Changed
The 2025 North Atlantic swordfish adjusted quota is set at 3,152.6 mt dressed weight (mt dw) after a 440.6 mt dw carryover and a 225.6 mt dw transfer to Costa Rica. For 2025, allocations are: Directed 2,802.6 mt dw, Incidental 300 mt dw, and Reserve 50 mt dw; the directed category will be split equally between January–June and July–December seasons.
South Atlantic Swordfish Quota Remains with Transfers
The 2025 South Atlantic swordfish adjusted quota is 75.2 mt dressed weight (mt dw), equal to the baseline, with a 75.2 mt dw underharvest carryover and annual international transfers totaling 75.2 mt dw (37.6 mt dw to Namibia, 18.8 mt dw to Côte d'Ivoire, 18.8 mt dw to Belize). This applies through December 31, 2025.
Temporary Nature and 2026 Reset
These quota adjustments are temporary for the 2025 fishing year and are effective December 23, 2025 through December 31, 2025. Full annual baseline allocations will be available to U.S. harvesters starting January 1, 2026.
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