NOAA Moves Bluefin Quota to Boost Early 2026 Commercial Opportunity

NOAA Fisheries issued a temporary quota-transfer rule on January 8, 2026 that shifts a portion of the Atlantic bluefin tuna General category quota from December into the January-March 2026 period. The move sets the January-March subquota at 63.7 metric tons and reduces December to 11.0 metric tons, a change intended to expand commercial fishing opportunities for permitted vessels at the start of the year.

The action affects General category permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels with commercial sale endorsements. By increasing the early-year subquota, operators who hold General category permits and charter/headboat vessels that sell commercially will have more allowable landings during January through March. That can influence trip planning, dealer coordination, and market timing for auctions and sales in the traditionally slower post-holiday months.

NOAA framed the transfer as an interim measure while it proceeds with separate 2026 rulemaking to align baseline U.S. Atlantic bluefin tuna quotas with decisions made by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). That forthcoming regulatory action will address baseline quota modifications and could change annual allocations more permanently. For now, the temporary rule is limited to shifting existing surplus from December into the first quarter of 2026.

Practical implications are immediate. Verify your General category permit and any commercial sale endorsements are current and valid before targeting bluefin in January-March. Coordinate with dealers to confirm they can accept and process landings under the revised subquota schedule. Adjust trip plans and crew arrangements to take advantage of the larger early-season allocation, while monitoring landing records to avoid exceeding the subquota as the season progresses.

Community managers, tournament organizers, and cooperatives should also account for the reallocation when setting event dates and prize structures that depend on legal landing windows. Keep an eye on NOAA’s 2026 rulemaking for baseline quota alignment with ICCAT decisions, as that process may lead to further adjustments affecting the rest of the year.

This temporary transfer gives commercial bluefin operators a short-term opening to increase activity in the first quarter. Act now to align permits, dealers, and operations with the new January-March subquota while staying alert for the broader 2026 regulatory changes that will follow.