Pacific Cod TAC Reallocation from Jig Gear to Hook-and-Line Pot Gear

FR: Commerce Department

Published April 2nd, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

NMFS issued a temporary rule reallocating 930 metric tons of Pacific cod total allowable catch 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 management area. The action, effective April 2 through December 31, 2026, addresses the Regional Administrator's determination that jig vessels cannot harvest the allocated amount.

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What changed

NMFS reallocated 930 mt of Pacific cod TAC from the jig gear A season allowance (reduced from 990 mt to 60 mt for A season, 721 mt annual) to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear (increased from 2,342 mt to 3,272 mt). The Regional Administrator determined jig vessels will not be able to harvest the unused portion while hook-and-line and pot gear vessels have capacity to harvest additional TAC.\n\nVessels operating in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands groundfish fishery should verify their gear assignments align with the revised harvest specifications. This temporary reallocation is effective through December 31, 2026, and is made pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C) authority.

What to do next

Verify vessel gear classification aligns with reallocated TAC categories
Monitor Alaska Region NMFS announcements for any additional reallocations during the 2026 season
Ensure catch reporting reflects the revised allocation limits by gear type and vessel class

Source document (simplified)

Rule

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/02/2026

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Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-06425 (91 FR 16583) Document Headings ###### Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679
Docket No. 260305-0066; RTID 0648-XF600 # AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

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

Published Document: 2026-06425 (91 FR 16583)