Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Angling Category Retention Limit Adjustment
Built by the Tribune's code from the Federal Register. No AI wrote this page. Published in the Federal Register May 29, 2026. Document 2026-10816. Updated Nov. 10, 2026.
- What it does
NMFS is adjusting the Angling category Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limit from the default of one school, large school, or small medium BFT to: two BFT per vessel per day/trip measuring 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length (CFL), only one of which can be large school/small medium- sized fish (47 inches (119 cm) to less than 73 inches (185 cm) CFL) for private vessels with Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category permits; three BFT per vessel per day/trip measuring 27 inches to less than 73 inches CFL, only one of which can be large school/small medium for charter boat vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits when fishing recreationally for BFT; and six BFT per vessel per day/trip measuring 27 inches to less than 73 inches CFL, only one of which can be large school/small medium for headboat vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits when fishing recreationally for BFT. These retention limits are effective in all areas, except for the Gulf of America, where targeted fishing for BFT is prohibited.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's summary, as published in the Federal Register.
- What changed in the regulation
1 part of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).
- Compared with
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has published 185 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 184 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.
- What happens next and when
Effective June 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, or until NMFS via a notice in the Federal Register announces another adjustment to the retention limit.
The agency's dates, word for word.
The record as published
| Document number | 2026-10816 |
|---|---|
| Action | Temporary rule; retention limit adjustment. |
| Agencies | Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| Published | May 29, 2026 |
| Effective date | June 1, 2026 |
| Docket | NOAA-NMFS-2019-0042 |
Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register