NOAAFinal Rule
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Longline Category Quota Transfer
EnvironmentAgriculture
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Summary
This regulation allows fishing companies that catch bluefin tuna with longline equipment in the Atlantic Ocean to buy, sell, or transfer their allowed catch limits to other companies. This helps the fishing industry manage their resources more flexibly while the federal government continues to monitor bluefin tuna populations to prevent overfishing.
Key Points
- 1Fishing companies using longline equipment can now trade their bluefin tuna catch quotas with other companies instead of losing unused portions
- 2This rule applies specifically to Atlantic bluefin tuna, a valuable fish species that requires careful management to stay healthy
- 3The quota transfer system allows smaller or less active fishing operations to sell their catches rights to larger operations that can use them
- 4NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will continue monitoring bluefin tuna populations to ensure the overall catch limits don't harm the species
- 5The rule went into effect in February 2026 and changes how the longline fishing category manages its annual catch allowance
Key Dates
Published
February 10, 2026
This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.
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