Atlantic bluefin tuna and North Atlantic albacore quotas

The rule would modify the baseline annual U.S. Atlantic bluefin tuna quota and subquotas, as well as the baseline annual U.S. North Atlantic albacore (northern albacore) quota. This action is necessary to implement binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, as required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and to achieve domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The rule also would implement a minor change to the Atlantic tunas size limit regulations to address retention, possession, and landings of tunas damaged by shark bites. NMFS does not anticipate significant impacts to protected species (marine mammals or threatened and endangered species).

Goal is to implement final rule in June 2018, when the bulk of the fishery begins and when the ICCAT Recommendation enters into force.