In 1975, Congress enacted the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, 16 U.S.C. 971, et seq., (ATCA). Regulations promulgated pursuant to ATCA established federal reporting requirements, annual catch limits, and an inspection and certification scheme for tuna purse seine vessels (50 CFR Part 285).
Pursuant to 50 CFR 285.8, federal regulations were made applicable within Massachusetts territorial waters. In 1976, Massachusetts deleted all provisions of its 1974 regulations with the exception of the limit on the number of fishing vessels in the purse seine fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna, and extended a provision to cover those purse seine vessels operating in the fishery prior to 1974.
On June 22, 1979, the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, (NMFS) published an interpretation of its regulations vis-a-vis the Massachusetts regulations stating that the application of federal regulations in state waters is not intended to prevent the application of state regulations which when concurrently applied do not conflict with federal regulations, and are not inconsistent with conservation and management of Atlantic bluefin tuna under recommendations made by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (44 Fed. Reg. 122, 50 CFR 285). This interpretation concluded by stating "No effort has been made in our continuing review of laws and regulations to prevent the concurrent application of regulations such as the Massachusetts limited entry scheme for tuna purse seine vessels." (44 Fed. Reg. at 3639).
As of 2020, the Division of Marine Fisheries no longer issues any regulated fishery permit endorsements authorizing the use of purse seines for bluefin tuna. Accordingly, this activity is now prohibited within the waters under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth.
Director means the Director of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, or his or her agents or representatives.
Division means the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
Fish For means to harvest, catch, take or encircle, or attempt to harvest, catch, take or encircle any tuna by means of a purse seine.
Tuna means that species of Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus thynnus, irrespective of size, weight or classification.
All conditions shall be subject to change by the Director and shall be effective upon written notice to the holder of the regulated fishery permit to which the Statement of Conditions apply.
If, in the opinion of the Director, the registered purse seine vessel has violated any condition as contained in the Statement of Conditions, or unnecessarily or unduly disrupted the fishing activities of any sport or commercial fisherman, or damaged any fixed fishing gear, the regulated fishery permit of the registered purse seine vessel shall be suspended immediately and surrendered forthwith to the Director. Thereafter, and in an expeditious manner, the Director or a Presiding Officer to be appointed by him shall conduct an adjudicatory proceeding pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A and 801 CMR 1.01: Formal Rules to determine whether the regulated fishery permit shall be permanently revoked.
322 CMR, § 6.04