KEATING DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM NOAA ON BLUEFIN TUNA QUOTA ENFORCEMENT
Washington, DC – On Friday, Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09) sent a letter to Acting Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of NOAA, the Hon. Vice Admiral Nancy Hann calling for answers on NOAA's failure to stop the overharvesting of bluefin tuna and the potential impact on local fishermen later this year.
In prior years, NOAA has issued a regulation closing the January-March fishing period for bluefin tuna once a subquota is met, and then reopened as the bluefin tuna migrate up the coast from the Carolinas to New England. As of today, NOAA's website indicates that 72.9 metric tons of bluefin tuna have been harvested toward an allocation of 58.2 metric tons. As it stands today, the bluefin tuna harvest stands at 125% of quota and local fishermen deserve answers on whether to expect their subquota to be reduced later this year to account for NOAA's failure to close the fishery from January through March.
Congressman Keating posed the following questions to Under Secretary Hann in an effort to protect the interests of local fishermen:
When does NOAA plan to close the bluefin tuna fishery for the January-March period?
Why was the fishery not closed when the subquota was exceeded?
Is NOAA’s failure to close the fishery in violation of the quota transfer rule issued by NOAA on January 13, 2025?
How does NOAA intend to remedy the economic impacts of a reduced subquota for New England permit holders?
The full letter can be found at this link.