Rule2025-15285
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the Angling Category Gulf of Maine Area Trophy Fishery for 2025
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 12, 2025
Effective
August 12, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS closes the Angling category Gulf of Maine area fishery for large medium and giant ("trophy" (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm)) curved fork length (CFL) or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the 2025 fishing year. The Gulf of Maine area trophy fishery is defined as north of lat. 42[deg] N. This action applies to Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally for BFT. In addition to this closure, NMFS, through a separate action, is simultaneously closing the Angling category fishery for school and large school/small medium (i.e., measuring 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm) CFL) BFT. As a result of these closure actions, the Angling category fishery for BFT of all size classes is closed for the remainder of the year.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 153 (Tuesday, August 12, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 12, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38708-38709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15285]
[[Page 38708]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[Docket No. 220919-0193; RTID 0648-XF046]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Fisheries; Closure of the Angling Category Gulf of Maine Area Trophy
Fishery for 2025
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS closes the Angling category Gulf of Maine area fishery
for large medium and giant (``trophy'' (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185
centimeters (cm)) curved fork length (CFL) or greater)) Atlantic
bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the 2025 fishing year. The Gulf
of Maine area trophy fishery is defined as north of lat. 42[deg] N.
This action applies to Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling
and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally
for BFT. In addition to this closure, NMFS, through a separate action,
is simultaneously closing the Angling category fishery for school and
large school/small medium (i.e., measuring 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less
than 73 inches (185 cm) CFL) BFT. As a result of these closure actions,
the Angling category fishery for BFT of all size classes is closed for
the remainder of the year.
DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m., local time, August 12, 2025, through
December 31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Williamson,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99f8f7f7b7eef0f5f5f0f8f4eaf6f7d9f7f6f8f8b7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="accdc2c282dbc5c0c0c5cdc1dfc3c2ecc2c3cdcd82cbc3da">[email protected]</span></a>, or Larry Redd, Jr., <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#137f7261616a3d61767777537d7c72723d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c6aaa7b4b4bfe8b4a3a2a286a8a9a7a7e8a1a9b0">[email protected]</span></a>, by
email, or by phone at 301-427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic BFT fisheries are managed under the
2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its amendments,
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and consistent with
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). ATCA
is the implementing statute for binding recommendations of the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
(ICCAT). The HMS FMP and its amendments are implemented by regulations
at 50 CFR part 635. Section 635.27(a) divides the U.S. BFT quota,
established by ICCAT and as implemented by the United States among the
various domestic fishing categories, per the allocations established in
the HMS FMP and its amendments. NMFS is required under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act at 16 U.S.C. 1854(g)(1)(D) to provide U.S. fishing vessels
with a reasonable opportunity to harvest quotas under relevant
international fishery agreements such as the ICCAT Convention, which is
implemented domestically pursuant to ATCA.
Under Sec. 635.28(a)(1), NMFS files a closure notice with the
Office of the Federal Register for publication when a BFT quota (or
subquota) is reached or is projected to be reached. Retaining,
possessing, or landing BFT under that quota category is prohibited on
and after the effective date and time of a closure notice for that
category, for the remainder of the fishing year, until the opening of
the subsequent quota period or until such date as specified.
Every year, the BFT fishing year starts on January 1 and ends on
December 31. The Angling category opens on January 1 and continues
through December 31 or until the applicable quota or subquota is
reached or projected to be reached, whichever comes first. As described
in Sec. 635.27(a), the current baseline U.S. BFT quota is 1,316.14
metric tons (mt) (not including the 25 mt ICCAT allocated to the United
States to account for bycatch of BFT in pelagic longline fisheries in
the Northeast Distant Gear Restricted Area per Sec. 635.27(a)(3)). The
Angling category baseline quota is 297.4 mt, of which 9.2 mt (3.1
percent of the annual Angling category quota) is sub-allocated for the
harvest of large medium and giant (trophy) BFT by vessels fishing under
the Angling category quota, with 2.3 mt (25 percent of the annual large
medium and giant BFT Angling category quota) allocated for each of the
four areas delineated at Sec. 635.27(a)(2)(iii), including the area
that is north of lat. 42[deg] N (the Gulf of Maine area). Trophy BFT
measure 73 inches (185 cm) CFL or greater. This closure action applies
to the Gulf of Maine area.
Angling Category Trophy Bluefin Tuna Gulf of Maine Area Fishery Closure
As described above, the Angling category Gulf of Maine area trophy
BFT subquota is 2.3 mt. While landings estimates from 2024 indicate
that the overall Angling, Harpoon, and General category quotas were
exceeded and NMFS expects to take action later this year to reduce the
various category quotas consistent with the estimated overharvest, NMFS
does not expect the 2025 trophy subquota, which is relatively small, to
be affected.
Based on landings data from the NMFS Automated Catch Reporting
System, as well as average catch rates and anticipated fishing
conditions, NMFS has determined the Angling category Gulf of Maine area
trophy BFT subquota of 2.3 mt is projected to be reached shortly.
Therefore, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant
(i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) CFL or greater) BFT north of lat.
42[deg] N by persons aboard HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat
permitted vessels (when fishing recreationally) must cease at 11:30
p.m. local time on [insert date of publication in the Federal
Register]. This closure will remain effective through December 31,
2025. This action applies to HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat
permitted vessels when fishing recreationally for BFT, and is taken
consistent with the regulations at Sec. 635.28(a)(1). This action is
intended to prevent overharvest of the Angling category Gulf of Maine
area trophy BFT subquota. NMFS previously closed all the other BFT
trophy areas (90 FR 11233, March 5, 2025; 90 FR 17342, April 25, 2025;
and 90 FR 21697, May 21, 2025). Therefore, with this closure of the
Gulf of Maine area trophy BFT fishery, the Angling category trophy BFT
fishery will be closed in all areas for 2025. In addition to this
closure, NMFS, through a separate action, is simultaneously closing the
Angling category fishery for school and large school/small medium
(i.e., measuring 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm)
CFL) BFT. As a result of these closure actions, the Angling category
fishery for BFT of all size classes is closed for the remainder of the
year.
If needed to ensure available quotas or subquotas are not exceeded
or to enhance fishing opportunities, subsequent Angling category
adjustments or closures will be published in the Federal Register per
Sec. Sec. 635.27(a)(7) and 635.28(a)(1). Information regarding the
Angling category fishery for Atlantic tunas, including daily retention
limits for BFT measuring 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less than 73 inches
(185 cm) CFL, and any further Angling category adjustments, is
available at <a href="https://hmspermits.noaa.gov">https://hmspermits.noaa.gov</a>. During a closure, fishermen
aboard HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when
fishing recreationally may continue to catch and release (or tag and
release) BFT of all sizes, subject to the requirements of the catch-
and-release and tag-and-release programs at
[[Page 38709]]
Sec. 635.26. All BFT that are released must be handled in a manner
that will maximize survival, and without removing the fish from the
water, consistent with requirements at Sec. 635.21(a)(1). For
additional information on safe handling, see the ``Careful Catch and
Release'' brochure available at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/outreach-and-education/careful-catch-and-release-brochure/">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/outreach-and-education/careful-catch-and-release-brochure/</a>.
Monitoring and Reporting
NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries closely. Per Sec.
635.5(c)(1), HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessel
owners are required to report the catch of all BFT retained or
discarded dead, within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip,
by accessing <a href="https://hmspermits.noaa.gov">https://hmspermits.noaa.gov</a>, using the HMS Catch Reporting
app, or calling 888-872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until
4:30 p.m. Eastern Time).
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1855(d)) and regulations at 50 CFR part 635, and
this action is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
The Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) finds that pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice of, and an
opportunity for public comment on, this action because it is
impracticable and contrary to the public interest for the following
reasons. Specifically, the regulations implementing the HMS FMP and its
amendments provide for inseason retention limit adjustments and fishery
closures to respond to the unpredictable nature of BFT availability on
the fishing grounds, the migratory nature of this species, and the
regional variations in the BFT fishery. Providing for prior notice and
opportunity to comment is impracticable and contrary to the public
interest as this fishery is currently underway and, based on the most
recent landings information, the Angling category Gulf of Maine area
trophy BFT fishery subquota is projected to be reached shortly.
Delaying this action could result in trophy BFT landings which would
exceed the 2025 Angling category Gulf of Maine area trophy subquota,
which may result in future potential quota reductions for the Angling
and other BFT categories, depending on the magnitude of a potential
Angling category overharvest. NMFS must close the Gulf of Maine area
trophy BFT fishery before additional landings of these sizes of BFT
occur. NMFS notes that the public had an opportunity to comment on the
underlying rulemakings that established the U.S. BFT quota and the
inseason adjustment criteria.
For all of the above reasons, the AA also finds that pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d), there is good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 8, 2025.
Michael P. Ruccio,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-15285 Filed 8-8-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 12, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.