ð£Notice of Public Meeting for Pacific Fisheries Advisory Committee
NMFS announces a public meeting of the Permanent Advisory Committee (PAC) to advise the U.S. Commissioners to the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) on May 28, 2025. Meeting topics are provided under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.
Learn Moreð£Closure of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category Fishery for 2025
NMFS closes the General category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the January through March time period. The General category may only retain, possess, or land large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm) curved fork length (CFL) or greater) BFT when the fishery is open. This action applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT. During the closure, fishermen aboard General category permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may tag and release BFT of all sizes, subject to the requirements of catch-and-release and tag-and-release programs. On June 1, 2025, the fishery will reopen automatically.
Learn Moreð£NMFS Prohibits Trawl Fishing for Pacific Cod in Alaska for 2025
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the annual 2025 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to AFA trawl catcher/processors in the BSAI.
Learn MoreðNMFS Withdraws Proposed Vessel Strike Reduction Regulations
NMFS withdraws a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2022 to amend the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) vessel speed regulations. NMFS withdraws this proposed rule in light of numerous and ongoing requests from the public for further opportunity to review and engage with the Agency on the proposal. NMFS's existing vessel speed regulations remain in effect.
Learn Moreð£Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Quota Transfer Regulation Overview (2025)
NMFS is transferring 20.5 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the General category December 2025 subquota to the January through March 2025 subquota period. The adjusted General category January through March 2025 subquota is 58.2 mt. This action is intended to provide further harvest opportunities for General category fishermen, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.
Learn Moreð£North Pacific Albacore Stakeholder Meeting Announcement - 2025
NMFS announces a U.S. stakeholder meeting to discuss North Pacific albacore (NPALB) management. This meeting is intended to prepare for potential discussions at the 2025 annual meetings of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Northern Committee (WCPFC NC) related to the results of the Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) for NPALB fisheries. The meeting topics are described under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.
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