Rule2026-10317
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the Angling Category Gulf of America 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
May 22, 2026
Effective
May 21, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS closes the Angling category Gulf of America 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 99 (Friday, May 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30247-30248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10317]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[Docket No. 220919-0193; RTID 0648-XF717]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Fisheries; Closure of the Angling Category Gulf of America 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 Gulf of America 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, May 21, 2026, through December
31, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Redd, Jr., <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a6cac7d4d4df88d4c3c2c2e6c8c9c7c788c1c9d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="375b5645454e1945525353775958565619505841">[email protected]</span></a>,
or Becky Curtis, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c2a0a7a1a9bbeca1b7b0b6abb182acada3a3eca5adb4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="701215131b095e130502041903301e1f11115e171f06">[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 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. NMFS notes, when the Gulf of America trophy fishery is open,
no large medium or giant BFT may be retained, possessed, landed, or
sold in the Gulf of America, except one per vessel per year may be
landed if caught incidentally to fishing
[[Page 30248]]
for other species as specified at Sec. 635.23(b)(1)(i) while the
fishery is open. This closure action applies to the Gulf of America.
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 the recommendation,
that proposed rule proposes increasing the baseline U.S. BFT quota from
1,316.14 mt to 1,509.98 mt and adjusting all the subquotas accordingly.
In that proposed rule, the Angling baseline quota would increase from
297.4 mt to 341.3 mt (of which, 10.6 mt would be sub-allocated for the
harvest of trophy BFT). The comment period on that proposed rule ends
on June 8, 2026. Any final rule implementing ICCAT Recommendation 25-05
would likely be effective in mid-2026 or later.
Angling Category Trophy Bluefin Tuna Gulf of America 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 Gulf of America
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 in 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 May 21, 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 Gulf of America trophy BFT subquota. The Angling category BFT
trophy fisheries for the 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 Gulf of America
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 Gulf of America 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.
For all of the above reasons, the AA also finds that pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3), 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: May 20, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-10317 Filed 5-20-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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