Coast Guard to Hold Public Meeting for the Upcoming Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Season

ATLANTIC BEACH, NC — The U.S. Coast Guard, National Marine Fisheries Service and the North Carolina Marine Patrol are jointly sponsoring a public meeting November 28 in Morehead City to discuss the upcoming Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. Commercial and recreational anglers are invited to attend.

The public meeting will be held at Carteret Community College’s Jocelyn Hall auditorium from 7 to 9 p.m. Various displays and information booths will be available for public viewing beginning at 6 p.m.

The meeting is intended to educate the public and answer questions regarding federal and state enforcement efforts, equipment and safety requirements. Representatives from each agency, including the Coast Guard’s commercial fishing vessel safety examiner, will be on hand to answer questions regarding fishery rules and regulations, permits and required gear.

The bluefin tuna fishery is extremely popular and lucrative for commercial and recreational anglers. Since the fishery draws both categories of fishermen from out of state, many are not fully educated on the state landing requirements and/or federal equipment regulations.

The season typically starts in December and lasts until NOAA determines that the harvest quota has been obtained. Rough weather and heavy seas are typically encountered during the winter months that bluefin tuna migrate off North Carolina. Safety equipment and a practical understanding of what is required to land a giant tuna is vital.

Coast Guard to Hold Public Meeting for the Upcoming Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Season

ATLANTIC BEACH, NC — The U.S. Coast Guard, National Marine Fisheries Service and the North Carolina Marine Patrol are jointly sponsoring a public meeting November 28 in Morehead City to discuss the upcoming Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. Commercial and recreational anglers are invited to attend.

The public meeting will be held at Carteret Community College’s Jocelyn Hall auditorium from 7 to 9 p.m. Various displays and information booths will be available for public viewing beginning at 6 p.m.

The meeting is intended to educate the public and answer questions regarding federal and state enforcement efforts, equipment and safety requirements. Representatives from each agency, including the Coast Guard’s commercial fishing vessel safety examiner, will be on hand to answer questions regarding fishery rules and regulations, permits and required gear.

The bluefin tuna fishery is extremely popular and lucrative for commercial and recreational anglers. Since the fishery draws both categories of fishermen from out of state, many are not fully educated on the state landing requirements and/or federal equipment regulations.

The season typically starts in December and lasts until NOAA determines that the harvest quota has been obtained. Rough weather and heavy seas are typically encountered during the winter months that bluefin tuna migrate off North Carolina. Safety equipment and a practical understanding of what is required to land a giant tuna is vital.