Commercial Atlantic bluefin General category closes at 11:30 p.m. tonight

The commercial Atlantic bluefin tuna General category is shutting tonight. NOAA Fisheries, in an action issued Oct. 16, 2026, closes the fishery at 11:30 p.m. local time on Oct. 17. The agency says the best available landings information shows the General category October-through-November subquota will be reached shortly.

The closure runs through Nov. 30. It covers vessels with an Atlantic Tunas General category permit, and Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat vessels that have a commercial sale endorsement, when they are fishing commercially. Those boats may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin from 11:30 p.m. tonight through the end of November. Restricted-fishing days that had been set for the rest of the October–November period are waived once this closure takes effect.

The General category reopens Dec. 1, 2026, at the default daily and trip limit of one fish per vessel. Recreational fishing is not affected. The recreational Angling-category quota transfer already on the desk is a separate action. Questions go to (301) 427-8503.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: NOAA Fisheries — Closure: Atlantic bluefin tuna General category commercial fishery (issued Oct. 16, 2026; closure 11:30 p.m. local time Oct. 17 through Nov. 30).