Tuna Fishery Shuts Down Early: No More Big Blues for September
Published Date: 9/19/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting now, commercial fishermen with General category and HMS Charter/Headboat permits can no longer keep or sell big Atlantic bluefin tuna for the rest of September 2025. They can still catch, tag, and release these fish, but the usual fishing restrictions are lifted during this closure. The fishery will reopen on October 1, 2025, and normal fishing rules will return then.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
September closure of General BFT fishery
If you are a commercial fisherman with an Atlantic Tunas General category permit or an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement, you may not retain, possess, or land large medium and giant Atlantic bluefin tuna measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length (CFL) or greater for the remainder of the September 2025 time period. The fishery will automatically reopen on October 1, 2025 and normal fishing rules will resume then.
Waiver of RFDs allows tag-and-release
Previously scheduled restricted-fishing days (RFDs) are waived for the remainder of the September 2025 time period. With the RFDs waived, General category permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may tag and release Atlantic bluefin tuna of all sizes, subject to the catch-and-release and tag-and-release program requirements.
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