Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Longline Category Quota Transfer
Published Date: 2/10/2026
Rule
Summary
NOAA is moving 30.8 metric tons of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota from the Reserve to the Longline fishing category for 2026. This means Longline fishermen get a bigger share—240.1 mt total—to catch until the end of the year or until the quota runs out. Each Longline vessel with recent activity will get an extra 893 pounds of quota, helping them fish more while NOAA plans future quota updates.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Longline quota raised to 240.1 mt
NOAA moved 30.8 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota from the Reserve to the Longline category, raising the Longline quota to 240.1 mt and reducing the Reserve to 7.4 mt. This adjustment is effective February 9, 2026, through December 31, 2026, or until the Longline quota is reached. If you fish under the Longline category, there is more quota available for incidental bluefin tuna interactions in 2026.
Each active longline vessel gets 893 lb IBQ
NMFS will distribute the 30.8 mt transferred quota equally to permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels with recent fishing activity. NMFS determined 76 active vessels; each of those IBQ accounts will receive 893 pounds (0.4 mt) of additional IBQ allocation shortly.
Planned consideration to raise U.S. BFT baseline
Separately, NMFS is working on a rulemaking to consider increasing the baseline U.S. Atlantic bluefin tuna quota from 1,316.14 mt to 1,509.98 mt consistent with the 2025 ICCAT recommendation. NMFS expects to issue a proposed rule in the next few months and any final rule would likely be effective in mid-2026 or later.
Minimum IBQ needed to depart on a trip
Regulations require that for the first pelagic longline trip in a calendar quarter a vessel must have minimum IBQ on board: 276 lb whole weight (0.125 mt) to depart in the Atlantic and 551 lb whole weight (0.25 mt) to depart in the Gulf of America. The transferred quota is intended to help vessels meet these minimums so they can legally depart on trips early in the year.
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