NOAA Fisheries has announced regulations that aim to help protect Atlantic bluefin tuna by reducing dead discards and providing measures to help ensure compliance with international quotas.
Developed through a comprehensive stakeholder process, the measures include areas in the Gulf of Mexico where gear is restricted in April and May—a time of year when the species spawns in that area—as well as off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, a prime bluefin feeding ground from December through to April.
The new restrictions also include a cap on Atlantic surface longline incidental catch of bluefin, both at the vessel level as well as at the fleet level.
"The United States is committed to protecting Atlantic bluefin tuna using sustainable, science-based management," said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA Fisheries.
"These measures allow fishermen to continue fishing for their target species using alternate gear. We are balancing the needs of the fishermen with the recovery of bluefin tuna."
Known as Amendment 7, the legislation includes measures to reduce the dead discard of bluefin tuna and improve discard accounting through individual transferable quotas in the pelagic longline fishery, as well as enhanced monitoring and reporting requirements in all fishing categories.
Under the new regulations, fishermen will have an incentive to avoid catching bluefin tuna incidentally when pursuing swordfish and other Atlantic tunas, since bluefin tuna catch (landings and dead discards) will be counted against individual longline vessel quotas, said NOAA Fisheries.
Longline fishing for bluefin will cease when the combined landings and discard catch hit the quota.
