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The recent overages underscore the urgent need for responsive and flexible fishery management—not regulatory red tape.
Bluefin Blues: U.S. Exceeds Tuna Quota by 9% Amid Regulatory Setbacks
UNITED STATES
Thursday, April 17, 2025, 08:00 (GMT + 9)
Delayed closures and overfishing spark concern as recreational landings surge beyond limits for the first time in over two decades
The outlook for Atlantic bluefin tuna in U.S. waters just took a troubling turn. On Monday, April 14, NOAA Fisheries announced that total bluefin tuna landings for the 2024 fishing year exceeded the U.S. adjusted quota by 138.3 metric tonnes (mt)—a 9% overage. Particularly alarming is the recreational sector, which landed 52% more than its allocated quota, according to Capt. Dave Monti reporting for the Cranston Herald.
Source: NOAA
 This overharvest comes on the heels of a controversial policy delay: NOAA Fisheries was unable to close the fishery in time due to regulatory limitations rooted in a Trump-era executive order. That order mandates that for every new federal regulation enacted, ten must be removed, which has created obstacles for swiftly enforcing closures aimed at sustainability.
While the first Trump administration exempted fisheries from a similar directive, no such exemption currently exists—leaving fisheries managers unable to take immediate action to curb overfishing when it matters most.
First Overage in More Than 20 Years
Including estimated dead discards (based on 2023 data), total landings in 2024 reached 1,613.5 mt, surpassing the adjusted U.S. quota of 1,475.2 mt. This marks the first time in over two decades that the United States has exceeded its Atlantic bluefin tuna quota.
Several fishing categories overshot their respective quotas:
Late-season recreational fishing activity is largely responsible for the surge, according to NOAA Fisheries.
Types of measurements of Atlantic bluefin tuna used in the industry. Straight fork length (SFL), Straight first dorsal fin length (LD1), Curved fork length (CFL), Head length (HeadL) and Preopercular length (PreopL).
Additionally, landings of school-size bluefin tuna (27–<47 inches curved fork length) exceeded international limits set to protect younger fish and ensure long-term population health. As a result of both excess landings and dead discards, no underharvest carryover will be available for use in 2025.
NOAA Eyes Corrective Measures for 2025
In response to the overharvest, NOAA Fisheries has announced it is reviewing quota payback measures and potential domestic management strategies for the upcoming 2025 season. These may include:
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Adjustments to commercial and recreational retention limits
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Quota transfers or reallocations
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Temporary or seasonal fishery closures
 These options will be discussed at the upcoming Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel meeting, scheduled for May 6–8, 2025. Public comments will be welcomed at the end of each meeting day.
With bluefin tuna populations already under international scrutiny and conservation pressure, the recent overages underscore the urgent need for responsive and flexible fishery management—not regulatory red tape.
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