Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Harpoon Category Retention Limit Adjustment

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635 [Docket No. 220919-0193; RTID 0648-XF752] AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; retention limit adjustments. SUMMARY: NMFS is decreasing the Harpoon category daily retention limit from the default of no more than a combined total of 10 large medium and giant bluefin tuna (BFT) ( i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) or greater curved fork length (CFL)), to no more than a combined total of 5 large medium and giant BFT. The incidental catch limit of two large medium BFT per vessel per day/trip remains unchanged. This retention limit applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessels from June 1 through the remainder of the 2026 Harpoon category fishing season, which concludes on November 15, 2026, or until further modified. DATES: Effective from June 1, 2026, through November 15, 2026, or until NMFS announces via a notice in the Federal Register another adjustment to the retention limit. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Curtis, becky.curtis@noaa.gov , or Larry Redd, Jr., larry.redd@noaa.gov , by email or by phone at 301-427-8503. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic BFT fisheries are managed under the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (HMS FMP) and its amendments, pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-St…