# 2026-14592: Harpoon Tuna Fishery Shut for Rest of 2026

2026-14592, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the Harpoon Category Fishery for 2026, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-07-20, effective 2026-07-17; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14592
- As of: 2026-07-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-14592
- Title: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the Harpoon Category Fishery for 2026
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 45225
- Published: 2026-07-20
- Effective: 2026-07-17
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-07-27

## In one line

Harpoon Tuna Fishery Shut for Rest of 2026

## 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.

## Abstract

NMFS closes the Harpoon category fishery for large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm)) curved fork length (CFL) or greater) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the 2026 fishing year. This closure applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessels.

## Effects PRIA read

- Harpoon Fishery Closed Mid‑July 2026: cost, high. 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 H…
- 24‑Hour Dealer and Vessel Reporting Rule: cost, low. 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…
- Risk of Future Quota Reductions: cost, medium. 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.

## Related documents

- [2026-14204](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14204): Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date, 2026-07-15
- [2026-14195](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14195): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2026-07-14
- [2026-07536](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07536): Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of America, 2026-04-17
- [2026-05599](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-05599): Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period…, 2026-03-23
- [2026-04256](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04256): Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fi…, 2026-03-04
- [2025-06746](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06746): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2025-04-17

## Sources
- [2026-14592 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/20/2026-14592/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-atlantic-bluefin-tuna-fisheries-closure-of-the-harpoon-category)
- [2026-14592 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-20/pdf/2026-14592.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-14584, Safety Zones; Delaware River Dredging, Marcus Hook, PA](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14584)
- [Next: 2026-14598, Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Newark Bay, Between the City of Newark and Cit…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14598)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14592 (as of 2026-07-27).