Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requests the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a revision and extension of the existing collection of information under OMB Control Number 0648-0328 for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports. Under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) of 1975, the Secretary of Commerce is required to promulgate regulations as may be necessary and appropriate to implement binding recommendations adopted by the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT requires the United States to collect biological statistics for research purposes and establishes annual quotas that limit the overall U.S. bluefin tuna and swordfish catches and U.S. recreational marlin landings. Timely access to recreational bluefin tuna catch data (e.g., landings and dead discards) and swordfish and marlin landings is vital to effectively monitor and manage the U.S. quotas. This collection provides such access so that managers can implement appropriate measures to limit catch or landings as necessary. This information collection request (ICR) is being modified to reflect the decision by the states of Maryland and North Carolina to discontinue their state catch card programs, which will necessitate HMS permit holders to shift to using the existing Federal reporting options for their HMS catch reports. The state of North Carolina discontinued their HMS catch card program in April 2025, while the state of Maryland’s program was discontinued in December 2025. This ICR has been revised to reflect that shift in reporting burden. Previously submitted revisions pursuant to proposed rule 0648-BM23 will be addressed by a separate action.

The latest form for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports expires 2029-04-30 and can be found here.

Bluefin Tuna Landing Cards for MD and NC

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Natural Resources - Conservation, Marine and Land Management

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