Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Bluefin Tuna Season and Size Limit Adjustments

Under the framework provisions of the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks (HMS FMP) governing the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery, NMFS amends the regulations regarding the opening date of the Purse seine category, closure dates of the Harpoon and General categories, and size tolerances of large medium BFT for the Purse seine and Harpoon categories. The intent of this final rule is to further achieve domestic management objectives under the HMS FMP and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and to implement recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) pursuant to the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA).