NMFS Announces 2006 Bluefin Quotas and Effort Controls

For a full description of this action please visit the library. The BFT retention limits are as follows: The coastwide General category Atlantic BFT fishery will reopen on June 1, 2006. The daily retention limit will be three large medium or giant BFT (73 inches or greater) per vessel per day/trip from June 1 through August 31, 2006. The coastwide recreational Atlantic BFT fishery is currently open in all areas. The recreational daily BFT retention limit through May 31 is 1 BFT/vessel/day/trip, measuring 47 to less than 73" CFL. Starting on June1, the daily retention limit will be 2 BFT (47 inches to less than 73 inches) per vessel per day/trip, effective in all areas, for the entire fishing year. In addition, vessels fishing under the Angling category may retain 1 BFT (73 inches or greater) per vessel per year as a “trophy” fish for the boat. Also, There will be 2 windows of opportunity to harvest school BFT (27 inches to less than 47 inches) during the 2006 season. The school BFT fishery will be open in the southern area, defined as south of 39° 18' N. lat. or approximately Great Egg Inlet, NJ, from July 1 to 21, 2006, during which time a retention limit of 1 school size BFT per day/trip will be in effect. In the northern area, defined as north of 39° 18' N. lat., a retention limit of 1 school size BFT per day/trip will be in effect from August 25, 2006, to September 14, 2006. The school retention limit is in addition to the retention limit for large school/small medium BFT. The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork length. There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas.

Current (through May 31, 2006) Recreational Retention Limits

The current (throught May 31, 2006)recreational daily BFT retention limit for vessels permitted in the HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat categories is 1 BFT/vessel/day/trip, measuring 47 to less than 73" CFL. Stay tuned for daily retention limits beyond June 1, 2006. In addition to the daily retention limit vessels are also allowed 1 trophy BFT, measure 73" or great/vessel/year. The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork length. There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas. (522) The current recreational daily swordfish retention limit is 1 fish per person, with a maximum of 3 fish per vessel. The minimum size for swordfish within the recreational fishery is 47 inches, lower jaw-fork length. You may not keep longbill spearfish. There are no retention limits for Atlantic sailfish, blue marlin and white marlin, but the NOAA Fisheries encourages recreational anglers to release all billfish alive. The minimum sizes for billfish are as follows: Blue Marlin: 99 inches lower jaw fork length; White Marlin: 66 inches lower jaw fork length; Sailfish: 63 inches lower jaw fork length; Spearfish: Retention prohibited. Lower jaw fork length is a straight line measurement from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the caudal fin. The current recreational limit on sharks is 1 shark per vessel per trip with a minimum size of 54 inches fork length; plus on Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip(no minimum size); plus 1 bonnethead hark per person per trip (no minimum size). None of these fish may be sold, and all must be reported.

REGULATIONS POSTED BY NMFS - CLICK HERE