December 2, 2014 — NOAA Fisheries has issued final regulations that will help protect Atlantic bluefin tuna by reducing dead discards and providing measures to help ensure compliance with international quotas.
These regulations were developed through a comprehensive process that included input from the public, states, industry and others.
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 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.
Atlantic bluefin tuna is regarded as one of the most important and prized species in the ocean. Weighing upwards of 1,000 pounds and reaching more than six feet long, bluefin tuna are near the top of the ocean food chain, giving them an important role in the marine ecosystem. They are also extremely valuable on the commercial market, which makes them particularly vulnerable to unreported and unregulated fishing internationally.