Pollock Fishery Closure in Gulf of Alaska Statistical Area 620
Summary
NOAA has issued a temporary prohibition on pollock fishing in Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska. The closure runs from 1200 hours Alaska local time on April 1, 2026, through 1200 hours Alaska local time on September 1, 2026. This action applies to all vessels operating in the specified statistical area.
What changed
NOAA has established a time-area closure for the pollock fishery in Gulf of Alaska Statistical Area 620, codified at 50 CFR 679. The prohibition took effect at 1200 hours Alaska local time on April 1, 2026, and will remain in place until 1200 hours Alaska local time on September 1, 2026. This action was issued under Docket No. 260305-0067 (RTID 0648-XF463) and is published at 91 FR 16842.
Vessels engaged in commercial pollock fishing must immediately cease operations in Statistical Area 620 and may not resume until the specified end time. This closure is consistent with standard NOAA Fisheries quota management practices for the Gulf of Alaska pollock fishery. Failure to comply with the area closure may result in enforcement action under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
What to do next
- Cease all pollock fishing operations in Gulf of Alaska Statistical Area 620 effective immediately
- Do not resume fishing in the closed area until 1200 hours Alaska local time on September 1, 2026
- Ensure vessel monitoring systems accurately reflect position to avoid inadvertent violations
Source document (simplified)
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Rule
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/03/2026
- 1.
1.
Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Agency/Docket Numbers Docket No. 260305-0067 RTID 0648-XF463 CFR 50 CFR 679 Document Citation 91 FR 16842 Document Number 2026-06514 Document Type Rule Pages 16842-16843
(2 pages) Publication Date 04/03/2026 Published Content - Document DetailsPDF Official Content
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Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Agency/Docket Numbers Docket No. 260305-0067 RTID 0648-XF463 CFR 50 CFR 679 Document Citation 91 FR 16842 Document Number 2026-06514 Document Type Rule Pages 16842-16843
(2 pages) Publication Date 04/03/2026 Published Content - Document DetailsDocument Dates Published Content - Document Dates Effective Date 2026-04-01 Dates Text Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2026. Published Content - Document Dates
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has no substantive legal effect.- AGENCY:
- ACTION:
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| Docket No. 260305-0067
(5 Documents) | | | |
| --- | | | |
| Date | | Action | Title |
| | 2026-04-03 | Temporary rule; closure. | Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska |
| | 2026-04-02 | Temporary rule. | Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final 2026 and 2027 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; 2026 Rockfish Program Cooperative Allocations |
| | 2026-03-18 | Temporary rule; closure. | Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 50 Feet Length Overall Using Hook-and-Line Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska |
| View More Docket Documents | | | |
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Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- 50 CFR Part 679
- [Docket No. 260305-0067; RTID 0648-XF463]
AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Temporary rule; closure.
SUMMARY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.
DATES:
Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 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 Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA is 46,510 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (91 FR 11902, March 11, 2026).
In accordance with §§ 679.20(d)(1)(i) and 679.20(d)(1)(ii)(B), the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the 2026 A season allowance of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA will be or has been reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 46,310 mt and is setting aside the remaining 200 mt as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will be or has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA.
While this closure is effective the maximum retainable amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
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 on pollock catch in a timely fashion and would delay the closure of directed fishing for pollock in the A season in Statistical Area 620 in the GOA, which could result in an exceedance of the A season allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data on pollock catch only became available as of March 31, 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 ( printed page 16843) 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: April 1, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-06514 Filed 4-1-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
Published Document: 2026-06514 (91 FR 16842)
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