Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries

NMFS is transferring 125 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the General category for the remainder of the 2016 fishing year. This transfer results in an adjusted 2016 General category quota of 591.7 mt. NMFS also is adjusting the Atlantic tunas General category BFT daily retention limit from five large medium or giant BFT per vessel per day/trip to four large medium or giant BFT per vessel per day/trip for the remainder of the 2016 fishing year. This action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels when fishing commercially for BFT.