DRAFT REGULATORY AMENDMENT TO UPDATE PELAGIC LONGLINE BLUEFIN TUNA AREA- BASED AND WEAK HOOK MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) fisheries are managed under the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). This rulemaking will consider changes to the area-based and weak hook management measures for bluefin tuna in the pelagic longline fishery. NMFS implemented an individual bluefin tuna quota system for pelagic longline fishery participants in 2015. With this approach and its emphasis on individual vessel accountability, NMFS has determined some fleetwide measures may be redundant. This action would consider how to appropriately streamline regulations and increase flexibility to the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery while maintaining bycatch reduction and conservation and management obligations.