Closure: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Fishery (Recreational) - All Sizes, All Areas

NOAA Fishery: Closure of Recreational Angling Category - all sizes, all areas will be CLOSED August 12, 2025, 11:30 p.m. local time – December 31, 2025

Summary for the closure for the Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

The reason for the closure according to the information that I have read from NOAA Fisheries, is that the Recreational Angling category for bluefin tuna, has been reached.

Recreational fishermen, aboard a properly registered Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling vessels or Recreational Fisherman fishing from a Fishing Charter Boat or Head Boat, which has a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishing Charter or Head boat permit, may not retain, may not possess, or may not land any size Atlantic bluefin tuna, including the small or medium sized schools, the medium to large sized schools, the large sized schools, or the giant-sized Atlantic bluefin tuna, from 11:30 p.m., August 12, 2025, through December 31, 2025.

During this closure, the recreational fishermen may continue to catch and release, or tag and release, all sizes of bluefin tuna. However, they are subject to the requirements of the catch and release and the tag and release programs set up by NOAA Fisheries.

The only Fishery currently being closed for the Recreational Angler Fishermans’ HMS permits is Bluefin Tuna. Recreational Fisherman or Anglers may still continue to recreationally harvest other highly migratory species, including other species of tunas, during this closure.

Commercial Atlantic Bluefin Tuna fishery is not affected by this closure.