Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries

NMFS closes the General category fishery for large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length or greater) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the September subquota time period until the General category reopens on October 1, 2021. Given that the General category September subquota will be closed by this action through the end of September, NMFS is also waiving previously- designated restricted-fishing days (RFDs) for the rest of September. The fishery will reopen on October 1, 2021, and the previously- designated RFDs will resume on October 1, 2021. This action applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.