Proposed 2022 Restricted-Fishing Days in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fishery
NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule regarding the use of restricted-fishing days (RFDs) in the Atlantic Tunas General category and HMS Charter/Headboat fisheries for 2022.
What will it do?
Under the proposed rule, NOAA Fisheries would establish a specific RFD schedule. Daily commercial bluefin tuna retention limits would be set to zero every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from July through November for the 2022 fishing year.
Atlantic Tunas General category permitted vessels may not fish for (including catch-and-release and tag-and-release), possess, retain, land, or sell a bluefin tuna of any size class on an RFD.
HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may fish for, possess, retain, or land bluefin tuna recreationally under applicable HMS Angling category rules, but may not commercially fish for or land a bluefin tuna on an RFD.
Throughout the season, NOAA Fisheries may waive certain RFDs by increasing the bluefin tuna retention limit for those days; however, NOAA Fisheries would not modify RFDs in other ways (e.g., switching days, adding RFDs).
More information is available on our website.
Who is affected?
- Any Atlantic Tunas General category or HMS Charter/Headboat permit holder fishing commercially for bluefin tuna.
- Any dealers who buy or sell Atlantic bluefin tuna.
- Some Atlantic bluefin tuna tournaments that are open to participation by Atlantic Tunas General category permit holders.
Public Hearing
A webinar and conference call for this rulemaking will take place on March 24, 2022 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT
Join WebEx
Meeting number: 2762 913 4166
Password: g4tGXmttg (44849688 from phones)
Join by phone:
+1-415-527-5035 US Toll
Access code: 276 291 34166
Request for Comments
NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on this RFD schedule for the 2022 fishing year.
We are also requesting comments on:
- Whether the RFD schedule should be three days in a row per week.
- Whether RFDs should also be considered for the General category December subquota period.
- Whether RFDs should be considered for the January through March subquota period for future rulemakings since this subquota period is currently closed.
Submit Comments between March 7 and 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 Larry Redd, Jr., (301) 427-8543.
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