NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule to modify the annual U.S. quota and subquotas for Atlantic bluefin tuna, as well as the annual U.S. North Atlantic albacore quota.
What will it do?
NOAA Fisheries proposes increasing the baseline annual U.S. bluefin tuna quota from 1,247.86 metric tons (mt) to 1,316.14 mt, the level recommended for 2022 by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). NOAA Fisheries would accordingly adjust the bluefin tuna domestic fishing category subquotas per the existing quota distribution formulas. Additionally, NOAA Fisheries proposes adjusting the baseline annual U.S. northern albacore quota from 632.4 mt to 711.5 mt, the level recommended by ICCAT for 2022 and 2023. NOAA Fisheries analyzes the effects of three-year northern albacore quotas of up to 950 mt, where the quota is set through application of the harvest control rule.
A full description of the proposed bluefin and northern albacore tuna quotas can be found in the proposed rule and supporting Environmental Assessment.
Who is affected?
- Any U.S. fisherman who targets or incidentally catches Atlantic bluefin tuna and/or northern albacore.
Public Hearing
A webinar and conference call for this rulemaking will take place on March 24, 2022 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT
Meeting number: 2762 913 4166
Password: g4tGXmttg (44849688 from phones)
Join by phone:
+1-415-527-5035 US Toll
Access code: 276 291 34166
Submit Comments by April 6, 2022:
Written comments may be submitted electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. All comments received become part of the public record but can be submitted anonymously.
For more information contact Carrie Soltanoff (301) 427-8503.
