U.S. Tightens Rules to Save Pacific Tunas and Sea Turtles
Published Date: 7/7/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting July 7, 2026, new rules will help protect tropical tunas like bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack in the eastern Pacific Ocean. These changes affect fishing boats and aim to keep tuna populations healthy while also protecting sea turtles. The U.S. is stepping up to meet international agreements, balancing fishing with conservation without big cost surprises.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 2 mixed.
Purse Seine Closure Cut by 8 Days
Starting July 7, 2026, the required purse seine closure in the eastern Pacific drops from 72 days to 64 days (an 8-day reduction). NMFS estimates each extra fishing day can be worth an average of $56,000 to $73,000 per large U.S. purse seine vessel (average $65,000/day), and 18 large U.S. vessels could gain about $1.0 million to $1.3 million in extra ex-vessel revenue per additional day; U.S. landings could increase by up to 5,740 metric tons per year.
One-Time Fleet Tagging Fee
Owners of class size 4–6 U.S. purse seine vessels must pay a one-time assessed contribution of $6.16 per cubic meter of well capacity to the IATTC; payment was due by June 30, 2026 (or prior to inclusion on the Regional Vessel Register for vessels entering after January 15, 2026). NMFS estimates the one-time fee totals $185,447 for the entire U.S. large purse seine fleet.
Extra Closure Days If You Catch Too Much Bigeye
Purse seine vessels that exceed specified annual bigeye tuna catch levels must observe additional closure days in the following year. The rule sets catch thresholds and extra days: exceeding 1,200 mt → +10 days; 1,500 mt → +13 days; 1,800 mt → +16 days; 2,100 mt → +19 days; 2,400 mt → +22 days.
Class 4 Vessels Can Pick Their 64 Days
Class size 4 purse seine vessels must observe a 64-consecutive-day closure but are allowed to select the timing of that closure at any time of the year; class 4 vessels are no longer eligible to request a force majeure exemption for closure days. Notification deadlines: class 4 vessels must email their chosen closure at least 30 days before the start of closure; class 5–6 vessels must notify by May 15 of the relevant year.
New and Expanded FAD Reporting Rules
Vessel owners/operators must record daily buoy location and acoustic data for all Active Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), including whether the echosounder is on or off, and submit monthly reports no later than 90 days after the month covered. Vessels can also enter FAD recovery data directly into the IATTC online database as an alternative to the paper form.
Sea Turtle Handling and Reporting Requirements
Purse seine vessels must carry safe handling tools (e.g., dip nets meeting Sec. 660.712(b)(3) design), promptly release sea turtles entangled in FADs, and record all sea turtle interactions in the logbook including: number of turtles, date, latitude/longitude, gear type, species ID, size, and capture/release condition. NMFS estimates reporting sea turtle interactions will average 3 minutes per form.
Speedboat Requirement Removed; Safety Emphasized
The old regulatory requirement that purse seine vessels station speedboats near the net to assist in releasing sea turtles is removed; instead the rule requires safe release and updated net-roll procedures (e.g., haul net over turntable to 2 meters and move main boom) to improve human safety and turtle release outcomes.
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