September 12, 2019

New Quota Adjustments for Swordfish, Albacore Tuna, and Bluefin Tuna

NOAA Fisheries announced new 2019 baseline quotas for North Atlantic albacore tuna, North and South Atlantic swordfish, and Atlantic bluefin tuna (reserve category). These updates come as a result of underharvest of these species in 2018, moving the underutilized quota for 2018 to be available for 2019 use. The new quotas are as follows:

New Quota Old Quota Amount Carried Over
North Atlantic Albacore Tuna 790.5 mt ww 632.4 mt ww 158.1 mt
North Atlantic Swordfish 3,378.2 mt dw 2,937.6 mt ww 440.6 mt
South Atlantic Swordfish 75.1 mt dw 75.2 mt dw 75.1 mt
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Reserve 225.3 mt ww 29.5 mt ww 127.3 mt from 2018, 68.5 mt from purse seine

Key: mt = metric tons, ww = whole weight, dw = dressed weight

Note: The South Atlantic swordfish transfer is handled differently from the rest. No U.S. fishermen caught any South Atlantic swordfish in 2018, so the entire 75.1 mt dw was transferred to the 2019 quota, effectively doubling it. However, the entire 75.2 mt dw quota for U.S. landed South Atlantic swordfish for 2019 was already transferred to other countries, namely Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Belize, as is recommended by ICCAT. In short, the 2019 quota for U.S. landed South Atlantic Swordfish was transferred to other countries, but, because the U.S. caught none in 2018, the quota was refilled for use in 2019.

To stay up to date on all things billfish, be sure to subscribe to the TBF newsletter or follow us on social media, @TheBillfishFoundation.

Get on Board

Get up to date information on events, news, and research on a constant basis. Submit your email now to join our exclusive newsletter.

Share this Story

Latest News

Shop TBF

“Back with a Vengeance!” by C.R. Buck
$70.00
Men’s Quarter-Zip Pullover
$55.00
“Conservation Escalation” by Mark Ray
$70.00
Billfish Foundation Tags
$21.00

Upcoming Events

Recent News

Exploring the Depths of Conservation: Dive into the latest updates and insights from The Billfish Foundation. Discover engaging stories and pioneering research in our ongoing commitment to marine preservation.

Interested in Learning More?

TBF provides a voice for billfish conservation and the recreational fishing community globally.
Our success would not be possible without the support of our community. Review the ways you can support our efforts.
TBF fosters strong billfish conservation ethics, helping anglers of all generations understand the importance of the recreational sportfishing industry and billfish

Get on Board

Join our Newsletter

Get up to date information on events, news, and research on a constant basis. Submit your email now to join our exclusive newsletter.

Explore Our Socials

Search TBF

Sailfish Challenge

TBF Introduces 10 Grander Club, aka “The Billie Club”

Pacific Bluefin Tuna Recovery

TBF’s Miami EcoAdventures Outreach

Important Deadlines

NOV
01
TBF Gala 2024 – Save the Date