Data / Federal rules / 2025-22209

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the General Category December Fishery for 2025

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published this final rule in the Federal Register on December 8, 2025. It took effect on December 5, 2025.

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What the agency says

NMFS closes the General category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the December time period. The General category may only retain, possess, or land large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm)) curved fork length (CFL) or greater) BFT when the fishery is open. This action applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT. During the closure, fishermen aboard General category permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may tag and release BFT of all sizes, subject to the requirements of the catch- and-release and tag-and-release programs. On January 1, 2026, the fishery will reopen automatically.

Key facts

Document number: 2025-22209
Type: Final rule
Action: Temporary rule; closure
Agency: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Published: December 8, 2025
Takes effect: December 5, 2025
Dates: Effective 11:30 p.m., local time, December 5, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
Docket: Docket No. 220919-0193; RTID 0648-XF331
Code of Federal Regulations: 50 CFR 635
Pages: 2

The document on federalregister.gov PDF

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Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the General Category October Through November Fishery for 2026 2026-21450	Final rule	Oct 20
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 2026-21239	Final rule	Oct 16
Fishery Management Plans of St. Croix and St. Thomas and St. John; Spiny Lobster Management Measures 2026-21205	Proposed rule	Oct 16

Everything from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · Published in December 2025

Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.