Harpoon Tuna Fishery Shut for Rest of 2026
Published Date: 7/20/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting July 17, 2026, the Harpoon category fishery for big Atlantic bluefin tuna will be closed for the rest of the year. This means boats with Harpoon permits can’t catch or keep these giant tunas until 2027. The closure helps protect tuna populations and follows international fishing rules, so fishermen need to plan accordingly and watch their wallets.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Harpoon Fishery Closed Mid‑July 2026
If you own or operate an Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessel, you cannot retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (measuring 73 inches / 185 cm curved fork length or greater) starting at 11:30 p.m. local time on July 17, 2026, for the remainder of the 2026 Harpoon season (which normally runs June 1 through November 15) and through December 31, 2026. NMFS determined the Harpoon adjusted quota (65.6 metric tons) was reached and reported landings are about 72.8 metric tons; the Harpoon category will reopen automatically on June 1, 2027, unless NMFS reopens earlier.
Risk of Future Quota Reductions
NMFS states that delaying action and allowing further bluefin tuna landings that exceed the Harpoon adjusted quota could result in future quota reductions for other BFT categories or reductions to the 2027 Harpoon category quota. The closure is intended to prevent such overharvest consequences.
24‑Hour Dealer and Vessel Reporting Rule
Dealers must submit landing reports within 24 hours of receiving a bluefin tuna, and Harpoon category vessel owners must report their catch (retained or discarded dead) within 24 hours of the landing or end of each trip using https://hmspermits.noaa.gov, the HMS Catch Reporting app, or 888-872-8862. Late dealer reporting can harm NMFS quota monitoring and may lead to enforcement actions.
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