NMFS transfers 16.3 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the 24.3-mt General category December 2017 subquota period to the January 2017 subquota period, and adjusts the Atlantic tunas General category BFT daily retention limit from the default of one to three large medium or giant BFT (measuring 73” or greater) per vessel per day/trip for the January 2017 subquota period. Although it is called the “January” subquota, the regulations allow the General category fishery under this quota to continue until the subquota is reached or March 31, whichever comes first. The transfer of 16.3 mt of General category quota allocated for the December 2017 period to the January 2017 period results in a subquota of 41 mt for the January 2017 period and a December 2017 period subquota of 8 mt. NMFS also adjusts the General category BFT daily retention limit from the default of one to three large medium or giant BFT (measuring 73” or greater) per vessel per day/trip for the January 2016 subquota period. The General category daily retention limit applies to vessels permitted in the commercial Atlantic tunas General category and the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category while fishing commercially. The daily retention limit is effective for all areas except for the Gulf of Mexico, which is designated as BFT spawning grounds and where NMFS does not allow targeted fishing for BFT. NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries closely. Dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of a dealer receiving BFT. General category, HMS Charter/Headboat, Harpoon, and Angling category 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 hmspermits.noaa.gov. Depending on fishing effort and catch rates, additional retention limit adjustments or fishery closures may be necessary to ensure available quota is not exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas. For further information, please see the notice in the library (link at left of page) or at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/news/breaking_news.html.
NMFS transfers 16.3 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the 24.3-mt General category December 2017 subquota period to the January 2017 subquota period, and adjusts the Atlantic tunas General category BFT daily retention limit from the default of one to three large medium or giant BFT (measuring 73” or greater) per vessel per day/trip for the January 2017 subquota period. Although it is called the “January” subquota, the regulations allow the General category fishery under this quota to continue until the subquota is reached or March 31, whichever comes first. The transfer of 16.3 mt of General category quota allocated for the December 2017 period to the January 2017 period results in a subquota of 41 mt for the January 2017 period and a December 2017 period subquota of 8 mt. NMFS also adjusts the General category BFT daily retention limit from the default of one to three large medium or giant BFT (measuring 73” or greater) per vessel per day/trip for the January 2016 subquota period. The General category daily retention limit applies to vessels permitted in the commercial Atlantic tunas General category and the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category while fishing commercially. The daily retention limit is effective for all areas except for the Gulf of Mexico, which is designated as BFT spawning grounds and where NMFS does not allow targeted fishing for BFT. NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries closely. Dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of a dealer receiving BFT. General category, HMS Charter/Headboat, Harpoon, and Angling category 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 hmspermits.noaa.gov. Depending on fishing effort and catch rates, additional retention limit adjustments or fishery closures may be necessary to ensure available quota is not exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas. For further information, please see the notice in the library (link at left of page) or at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/news/breaking_news.html.