The National Marine Fisheries Service is taking two actions regarding the recreational Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Angling category fishery:
(1) closure of the southern area trophy BFT fishery (73" or greater) effective 11:30 p.m. local time, Thursday, April 4, through the remainder of 2013; and
(2) adjustment of the daily retention limit that applies to the HMS Charter/Headboat category (when fishing recreationally), effective April 4, 2013, from 1 fish measuring 27 to <73" to:
1 school BFT (27 to <47”) and 1 large school/small medium BFT (47 to <73”) per vessel.
The recreational daily retention limit that applies to HMS Angling category vessels remains at the default level of 1 school, large school, or small medium BFT (27 to <73”) per vessel.
For more information, please see the attached notice or go to the HMS Division website at:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/breaking_news.htm