NOAA Fisheries has determined that the Atlantic tunas General and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling categories' daily bluefin tuna retention limits should be adjusted for the early part of 2007 fishing year, which begins on June 1, 2007.  Therefore, NOAA has increased the daily bluefin retention limits to provide enhanced commercial and recreational fishing opportunities in all areas through July 31, 2007, without risking overharvest of the General and Angling category quotas.  This adjustment will allow for maximum utilization of the General category June through August time-period subquota, and will enhance recreational bluefin fishing opportunities aboard HMS Angling and Charter/Headboat vessels in the early portion of the season. NOAA Fisheries may determine that additional actions are necessary in the future. The 2007 fishing year will end on December 31, 2007.

Click here for a summary of the measures.

For more information, refer to the Federal Register notice or contact Brad.McHale@noaa.gov .