NOAA Boosts Bluefin Tuna Quota While Keeping Swordfish Steady
Published Date: 5/7/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
NOAA is updating fishing limits for swordfish, albacore, and bluefin tuna to follow international rules and protect these fish. They’re keeping most quotas the same but increasing the bluefin tuna quota and adjusting how it’s shared among fishermen. If you fish these species or care about ocean life, you can comment by June 8, 2026, and join a webinar on May 28 to learn more.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
U.S. Bluefin Tuna Quota Raised
NOAA proposes a new U.S. baseline Atlantic bluefin tuna quota of 1,509.98 metric tons (mt) for 2026–2028 and an annual total U.S. quota of 1,572.48 mt after adding a 62.5 mt pelagic longline bycatch set-aside. The rule also lists the resulting category and subquota numbers (for example, 815.4 mt for the General category and 341.3 mt for Angling).
Longline Bycatch Set-Aside Grows and Is Reallocated
NOAA proposes to increase the pelagic longline bluefin tuna bycatch set-aside from 25 mt to 62.5 mt and to allocate that set-aside to pelagic longline Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) shareholders with shares designated for the Atlantic region. IBQ shares designated for the Gulf region would not receive allocation from this set-aside, and Atlantic IBQ allocation cannot be used in the Gulf.
North Atlantic Swordfish Management Procedure Adopted
NOAA would implement ICCAT's North Atlantic swordfish management procedure (Recommendation 25-10) but is not changing the U.S. baseline quota for 2026–2027 (2,937.6 mt dressed weight / 3,907 mt whole weight). The rule explains a TAC range (4,764 mt to 17,628 mt whole weight) and that the U.S. share is approximately 26 percent; if TAC rose to the maximum, the U.S. baseline could be codified up to 3,446.1 mt dressed weight (4,583.3 mt ww) with up to a 15% underharvest carryover for a maximum adjusted quota of 3,963.0 mt dw (5,270.8 mt ww).
Rule Applies to Thousands of Small Fishing Businesses
NOAA states this action would apply to all participants in the Atlantic swordfish and tuna fisheries and estimates 7,664 small entities (permit holders) could be affected. NMFS notes 76 pelagic longline vessels with IBQ shares produced about $16.1 million in revenue in 2024 (about $211,842 average per vessel).
Northern Albacore Quotas Kept, Future Increases Possible
NOAA is not changing the U.S. baseline northern albacore quota for 2024–2026 (889.4 mt) but describes the existing management procedure and analysis showing a maximum baseline of 950 mt and an underharvest carryover limit of 25 percent. The maximum adjusted quota analyzed is 1,187.5 mt.
South Atlantic Swordfish Carryover and Transfers Remain
NOAA is not changing the South Atlantic swordfish baseline quota or adjustment process for 2026 and future years; the rule reiterates an underharvest carryover allowance equal to 100 percent of the U.S. baseline (75.2 mt dw / 100 mt ww) and three annual international transfers totaling 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww) that are in place through 2026. Also, up to 150.4 mt dw (200 mt ww) of swordfish landed between 5° N and 5° S latitude can be counted toward the North Atlantic quota instead of the South Atlantic quota.
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Key Dates
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