Rule2026-00580
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the Angling Category Southern Area Trophy Fishery for 2026
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
January 14, 2026
Effective
January 13, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS closes the Angling category southern area fishery for large medium and giant ("trophy" (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm)) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1461-1463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00580]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[Docket No. 220919-0193; RTID 0648-XF429]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Fisheries; Closure of the Angling Category Southern Area Trophy Fishery
for 2026
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the Angling category southern area fishery for
large medium and giant (``trophy'' (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185
centimeters (cm)) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna
(BFT). This action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling
and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.
DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m., local time, January 13, 2026, through
December 31, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Redd, Jr., <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3cfc2d1d1da8dd1c6c7c7e3cdccc2c28dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d4b8b5a6a6adfaa6b1b0b094babbb5b5fab3bba2">[email protected]</span></a>,
or Ann Williamson, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#21404f4f0f56484d4d48404c524e4f614f4e40400f464e57"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a3c2cdcd8dd4cacfcfcac2ced0cccde3cdccc2c28dc4ccd5">[email protected]</span></a>, by email, or by phone at
301-427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic BFT fisheries are managed under the
2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (HMS
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
[[Page 1462]]
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
following areas: north of 42[deg] N latitude (lat.) (the Gulf of Maine
area); south of 42[deg] N lat. and north of 39[deg]18' N lat. (the
southern New England area); south of 39[deg]18' N lat. and outside of
the Gulf of America (the southern area); and the Gulf of America
region. Trophy BFT measure 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length or
greater. This closure action applies to the southern area.
Separate from this action, NMFS is working on a rulemaking that
would implement the 2025 ICCAT recommendation (Recommendation 25-05)
regarding western BFT management. Consistent with that recommendation,
the separate rulemaking action would consider increasing the baseline
U.S. BFT quota from 1,316.14 mt to 1,509.98 mt and adjusting any
subquotas as needed accordingly. In the next few months, NMFS expects
to issue a proposed rule regarding the overall quota increase and
resulting subquota calculations. Any final rule implementing ICCAT
Recommendation 25-05 would likely be effective in mid-2026 or later.
Angling Category Trophy Bluefin Tuna Southern Area Fishery Closure
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 southern area
trophy BFT subquota has been reached and exceeded. Therefore,
retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant (i.e.,
measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length or greater) BFT south
of 39[deg]18' N lat. and outside of the Gulf of America by persons
aboard HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels (when
fishing recreationally) must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time on January
13, 2026. This closure will remain effective through December 31, 2026.
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 further overharvest of the Angling category southern area
trophy BFT subquota. The Angling category BFT trophy fisheries for the
Gulf of America, Southern New England, and Gulf of Maine areas remain
open.
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. 635.27(a)(7) and Sec. 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), 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 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.).
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 southern area trophy
BFT fishery subquota has been reached and exceeded. Delaying this
action could result in further excessive trophy BFT landings that may
result in future potential quota reductions for the Angling category,
depending on the magnitude of a potential Angling category overharvest.
NMFS must close the southern area trophy BFT fishery before additional
landings of these sizes of BFT occur. Taking this action does not raise
conservation and management concerns, and would support effective
management of the BFT fishery. 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.
[[Page 1463]]
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: January 12, 2026.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-00580 Filed 1-12-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 14, 2026.
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