Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries

NMFS is transferring 19.5 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the 28.9-mt General category December 2022 subquota to the January through March 2022 subquota period. The adjusted General category January through March 2022 subquota is 49 mt. NMFS reminds General category participants that when the fishery reopens January 1, 2022, the daily retention limit will be one large medium or giant bluefin tuna (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length or greater) per vessel per day/trip. This action is intended to provide further opportunities for General category fishermen to participate in the January through March General category fishery, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.