NOAA Closes September Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Commercial Fishery as Subquota Fills
NOAA Fisheries will close the Atlantic bluefin tuna General category commercial fishery at 11:30 p.m. local time on September 24, 2026, after determining that the September subquota is projected to be reached shortly.
The action applies to vessels holding an Atlantic Tunas General category permit and to vessels holding an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement. From the closure time through September 30, those vessels may not retain, possess or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna.
A direct limit on late September commercial landings
The closure removes the remaining September fishing window for the affected commercial fleet. It is a quota management action rather than a shutdown of the recreational fishery, which NOAA said is not affected.
For dealers and buyers, the practical effect is a tighter regulatory boundary around domestically landed large bluefin during the final days of the month. Vessel operators also need to distinguish between possession rules that apply to their permit category and the separate recreational rules that remain in place.
The fishery is scheduled to reopen October 1
NOAA said the General category fishery will reopen on October 1 with a default daily and trip limit of one bluefin tuna per vessel. Restricted fishing days are scheduled every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday beginning October 1, adding another operational constraint for vessels planning October trips.
The agency uses subquotas, daily limits, restricted days and in season closures to keep landings within the annual allocation. Its September 24 notice makes the immediate trigger explicit: projected attainment of the September subquota.
What operators should verify
Permit holders should confirm the closure time in their local time zone and review the rules attached to their specific permit before leaving port. The announcement covers the commercial General category; it does not create a new restriction for recreational bluefin fishing.
The closure also illustrates why bluefin supply can change abruptly within a calendar month. Commercial users who rely on domestic Atlantic landings should track NOAA notices alongside dealer reporting requirements and scheduled reopening dates.
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