Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Cooperative Allocations 2026

Regs.gov: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Published April 1st, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

NMFS published a temporary rule announcing 2026 Rockfish Program cooperative allocations for the Gulf of Alaska groundfish fishery under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Allocations are provided for five cooperatives including Pacific Ocean Perch, sablefish, and halibut PSC limits. The rule is effective April 1 through December 31, 2026.

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What changed

NMFS is announcing 2026 Rockfish Program cooperative allocations for the Gulf of Alaska, calculated from applications received by the March 1 deadline. The notice lists specific allocations for five cooperatives: the Gulf of Alaska Best Use Cooperative (CP), the North Pacific Rockfish Cooperative (CV), the OBSI Rockfish Cooperative (CV), the Silver Bay Seafoods Rockfish Cooperative (CV), and the Star of Kodiak Rockfish Cooperative (CV), covering species including Pacific Ocean Perch, Northern Rockfish, Dusky Rockfish, Sablefish, Thornyhead rockfish, and Halibut PSC limits.

Cooperative members holding 2026 Rockfish Program allocations should verify their amounts in Table 1 and ensure fishing activities comply with allocated limits through December 31, 2026. The allocations are binding under 50 CFR 679.81 and violation consequences are governed by the Magnuson-Stevens Act and general fisheries regulations.

What to do next

Verify cooperative allocation amounts in Table 1 match expected fishing quotas
Ensure fishing operations comply with allocated species limits for the 2026 season
Submit 2027 Rockfish Program applications by March 1, 2027 to receive timely allocations

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Temporary rule.

SUMMARY:

NMFS is providing notification for the Rockfish Program cooperative allocations as described in the final rule that published
on March 11, 2026, implementing the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications and prohibited species catch limits for the
groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). These allocations are necessary to provide the Rockfish Program cooperative
amounts for 2026, thus allowing commercial fishermen to maximize their economic opportunities in this fishery. This notification
comports with the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP).

DATES:

Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Abby Jahn, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone according to the FMP prepared and recommended by the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of
50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR parts 679 and 680.

As described in the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA, allocations among vessels belonging
to catcher vessel (CV) cooperatives or catcher/processor (CP) cooperatives are not included in the final harvest specifications
(91 FR 11902, March 11, 2026). Rockfish Program applications for CV cooperatives and CP cooperatives are not due to NMFS until
March 1 of each calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot calculate 2026 and 2027 Rockfish Program cooperative allocations in
conjunction with the final harvest specifications (§ 679.81(f)). NMFS has received the 2026 Rockfish Program applications
and has calculated the 2026 allocations for CV cooperatives and CP cooperatives, as set forth in § 679.81(b), (c), (d), and
(e). NMFS is listing the 2026 allocations in table 1.

| Cooperative | Rockfish program species | 2026 allocation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rockfish Program Entry Level | Pacific Ocean Perch | 5 |
| | Northern Rockfish | 5 |
| | Dusky Rockfish | 50 |
| Gulf of Alaska Best Use Cooperative (CP) | Pacific Ocean Perch | 9,544.93 |
| | Northern Rockfish | 1,300.08 |
| | Dusky Rockfish | 1,971.90 |
| | Pacific cod | 0 |
| | Rougheye/Blackspotted rockfish | 215.46 |
| | Sablefish | 337.73 |
| | Shortraker rockfish | 75.60 |
| | Thornyhead rockfish | 156.35 |
| | Halibut PSC | 74.10 |
| North Pacific Rockfish Cooperative (CV) | Pacific Ocean Perch | 2,117.62 |
| | Northern Rockfish | 219.98 |
| | Dusky Rockfish | 395.13 |
| | Pacific cod | 107.85 |
| | Rougheye/Blackspotted rockfish | 0 |
| | Sablefish | 85.70 |
| | Shortraker rockfish | 0 |
| | Thornyhead rockfish | 6.08 |
| | Halibut PSC | 15.41 |
| OBSI Rockfish Cooperative (CV) | Pacific Ocean Perch | 3,075.36 |
| | Northern Rockfish | 449.57 |
| | Dusky Rockfish | 790.72 |
| | Pacific cod | 180.79 |
| | Rougheye/Blackspotted rockfish | 0 |
| | Sablefish | 143.66 |
| | Shortraker rockfish | 0 |
| | Thornyhead rockfish | 10.19 |
| | Halibut PSC | 25.83 |
| Silver Bay Seafoods Rockfish Cooperative (CV) | Pacific Ocean Perch | 4,294.73 |
| | Northern Rockfish | 515.94 |
| | Dusky Rockfish | 856.05 |
| | Pacific cod | 228.87 |
| | Rougheye/Blackspotted rockfish | 0 |
| | Sablefish | 181.86 |
| | Shortraker rockfish | 0 |
| | Thornyhead rockfish | 12.89 |
| | Halibut PSC | 32.70 |
| Star of Kodiak Rockfish Cooperative (CV) | Pacific Ocean Perch | 5,318.37 |
| | Northern Rockfish | 758.43 |
| | Dusky Rockfish | 1,213.20 |
| | Pacific cod | 303.50 |
| | Rougheye/Blackspotted rockfish | 0 |
| | Sablefish | 241.16 |
| | Shortraker rockfish | 0 |
| | Thornyhead rockfish | 17.10 |
| | Halibut PSC | 43.36 |

Classification

NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Through previous actions, the FMP and regulations
are designed to authorize NMFS to take this action. See 50 CFR part 679. This action is exempt from review under Executive
Order 12866.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action,
as notice and comment would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. This notification provides information on
the 2026 Rockfish Program cooperative allocations, and does not change operating practices in the fisheries. This notification
is consistent with the harvest specifications recommended by the Council in December 2025 and implemented by NMFS in the final
rule for the 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications (91 FR 11902, March 11, 2026). Those harvest specifications specify the
final total allowable catch (TAC) limits from which NMFS calculates the Rockfish Program cooperative allocations based on
existing regulations, which were implemented through prior notice and comment rulemaking (§ 679.81(b), (c), (d), and (e)).
The public was provided with notice and opportunity to comment during the public comment period for the proposed harvest specifications
(90 FR 58185, December 16, 2025) and has had notice of the final harvest specifications implementing the final TAC limits
(91 FR 11902, March 11, 2026). Because the public already had a meaningful opportunity to comment on the TAC limits from which
these allocations are derived, further opportunity for public comment is unnecessary and would not be meaningful.

This notification announces the Rockfish Program cooperative allocations based on applications received after the publication
of the 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications. If this notification is delayed to allow for notice and comment it could also
result in confusion for participants in the Rockfish Program given that the final rule implementing the 2026 and 2027 harvest
specifications is effective as of March 17, 2026, and the Rockfish Program fishery opens April 1, 2026.

There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to establish an effective date less than 30 days after date of publication. This
finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment.

Authority:

16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: March 31, 2026. David R. Blankinship, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2026-06472 Filed 4-1-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P