What Happened?

If you hold a General category permit, or run a charter boat that fishes commercially for tuna, you cannot keep large Atlantic bluefin tuna through Nov. 30. The Atlantic bluefin tuna closure took effect at 11:30 p.m. local time Oct. 17. ​

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) runs the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the agency that ordered the closure.

NMFS published the temporary rule Oct. 20, according to a Legis1 review of Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the General Category October Through November Fishery for 2026. It covers General category vessels and Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat vessels fishing commercially. Large means 73 inches (185 centimeters) or longer, measured by curved fork length.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

For permit holders, the closure ends the chance to sell large bluefin for the rest of November. All remaining Restricted-Fishing Days, set for every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday through Nov. 30, are waived for the closure period.

Lotz Outdoors reported that recreational fishing was not affected. EastBayRI.com reported that NOAA moved 15 metric tons from the Reserve category to the recreational Angling category.

The closure came after projected landings neared an adjusted October-November limit of 192.9 metric tons, set in a midseason change published Oct. 8. The usual limit for the period is 106 metric tons, so the adjustment added 86.9 metric tons.

Both Sides, Now

NMFS says acting now avoids a bigger problem. It wrote that delay "could result in BFT [bluefin tuna] landings that exceed the adjusted October through November time period subquota, which may result in future potential quota reductions for other BFT categories or the 2027 General category quota."

For commercial permit holders, the effect is direct: NOAA Fisheries says covered vessels may not retain, possess or land large bluefin from Oct. 17 to Nov. 30. NOAA Fisheries also posted a comparable closure for Oct. 7 to Nov. 30, 2025.

The Commerce Department, through NMFS, acted under its existing closure authority. NMFS skipped advance public comment, calling it "impracticable and contrary to the public interest" because the fishery was underway. It noted that "the public had an opportunity to comment on the underlying rulemakings."

What Happens Next?

NMFS may make further midseason adjustments after reopening, based on fishing effort and catch rates. It would publish any such change in the Federal Register.

The General category fishery reopens automatically Dec. 1, with no further rulemaking needed.

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