NOAA closes Atlantic General category bluefin fishery through March

NOAA Fisheries issued a temporary rule closing the Atlantic Tunas General category fishery for bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the January–March period after in-season monitoring showed the adjusted subquota had been reached. The Federal Register notice (FR Doc. 2026-00848) dated January 16, 2026 announces the closure, effective 11:30 p.m. local time on January 14, 2026 and continuing through March 31, 2026.

The agency had adjusted the January–March General category subquota to 63.7 metric tons. Reported landings reached and exceeded that level, totaling 64.6 metric tons, which triggered the temporary closure. Under the rule, permitted General category and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant BFT measuring 73 inches curved fork length (CFL) or greater when fishing commercially for the rest of the quarter.

Tag-and-release and catch-and-release remain permitted during the closure, but only under the established program rules and careful handling requirements. That means anglers and captains who encounter large medium or giant bluefin must follow the release protocols that protect the fish and maintain compliance with the recreational handling standards tied to the BFT conservation program.

The notice also explains dealer and vessel reporting requirements tied to this in-season action. Dealers and vessel operators remain subject to reporting and landing documentation obligations under existing regulations while the closure is in effect. Operators should ensure that all required landing and trip reports are submitted in line with permit conditions to avoid enforcement issues.

This in-season closure reflects the tight margins managers face when balancing U.S. quota allocations and fishing opportunity. NOAA’s action follows monitoring that showed the General category's winter subquota was essentially filled, and it prevents additional commercial retention that would exceed the adjusted allocation for the January–March period.

Separately, NOAA noted that a rulemaking is underway to implement a larger quota increase recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for 2026. That pending action could alter overall U.S. quota levels for the year, but it will not reopen the current January–March General category period while the temporary closure is in effect.

For captains, charter operators, dealers, and anglers, the immediate implications are straightforward: do not commercially land BFT 73 inches CFL or greater through March 31, follow tag-and-release rules and careful handling protocols when releasing fish, and keep up with required reporting. Watch for the forthcoming rulemaking on the ICCAT-recommended quota increase for potential changes later in the season.