Pacific Cod Reallocation, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Summary
NMFS issued a temporary rule reallocating 930 metric tons of Pacific cod TAC from jig gear vessels to catcher vessels under 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The action, effective April 2 through December 31, 2026, allows unused jig gear allocation to be harvested by vessels with remaining capacity. This is the third reallocation affecting 2026 Pacific cod quotas established in the March 10, 2026 harvest specifications.
What changed
NMFS reallocated 930 mt of Pacific cod from the A season jig gear allocation to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. The jig gear allocation drops from 990 mt to 60 mt for the A season (plus 721 mt annual total), while the catcher vessel allocation increases from 2,342 mt to 3,272 mt. The action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C) and responds to catch data indicating jig vessels cannot harvest their full allocation.
No action is required from the public or regulated entities as this is an administrative reallocation between quota categories. Fishing vessels should note the revised allocations when planning harvests. The temporary rule is effective immediately upon publication due to good cause waivers for notice-and-comment and 30-day delay under 5 U.S.C. 553. Vessels should verify updated quotas with NMFS Alaska Region before fishing operations.
Source document (simplified)
Content
ACTION:
Temporary rule; reallocation.
SUMMARY:
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) from vessels using jig gear to
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season allowance of the 2026 TAC of Pacific
cod to be harvested.
DATES:
Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 2, 2026, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrew Olson, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared and recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management 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 part 679.
The A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod TAC specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 990 metric tons (mt)
as established by the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR 11750, March 10, 2026).
The 2026 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the
BSAI is 2,342 mt as established by the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR 11750,
March 10, 2026).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest
930 mt of the A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). The Regional Administrator has also determined that catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line
or pot gear have the capability to harvest additional Pacific cod TAC.
Therefore, in accordance with and as required by § 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS reallocates 930 mt of Pacific cod from the jig
gear A season allowance to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line
or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2026 Pacific cod included in final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (91 FR 11750, March 10, 2026) are revised as follows: 60 mt to the A season and 721 mt to the annual amount for vessels
using jig gear, and 3,272 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679,
which was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and 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 impracticable and contrary to the public interest, as it would prevent NMFS from responding
to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would not allow for the full harvest by the sectors with harvesting
capability of the 2026 Pacific cod TACs established by the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI, which were published on March 10, 2026 and effective on March 18, 2026 (91 FR 11750). NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of March 10, 2026.
There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action. 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. 2026-06425 Filed 4-1-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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