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

DEEPER READ

This regulatory action by NMFS, under the Commerce Department, reallocates projected unused Pacific cod from one category of commercial fishing vessels to others within the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). Specifically, unused quota held by catcher vessels using trawl gear is being redistributed to catcher vessels less than 60 feet in length overall that use hook-and-line or pot gear, as well as to American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors. The stated purpose is to allow the full 2026 total allowable catch to be harvested, preventing waste of the permitted quota. The American Fisheries Act (AFA) is a federal law that governs certain large pollock and cod fishing operations in Alaskan waters, and AFA-designated catcher/processors are a specific class of federally permitted vessels. The inclusion of smaller vessels under 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear reflects an effort to distribute harvesting opportunity across different vessel classes and gear types, which can have differing economic and conservation profiles. This type of intra-year reallocation is a standard fishery management tool used by NMFS when certain sectors are projected not to use their full allocations. It is authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which governs federal fisheries management. The action applies to the 2026 fishing season and takes effect for the BSAI region, affecting commercial fishing businesses operating under federal permits in those waters. Affected parties include trawl catcher vessel operators who may see their effective share reduced, smaller hook-and-line and pot gear vessel operators who gain additional harvesting opportunity, and AFA-designated catcher/processors. Processors, fishing communities in Alaska, and associated supply chain businesses may also be indirectly affected by shifts in where and how cod is harvested.

AS PUBLISHED

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear and American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod in the BSAI to be harvested.

THE SAGE'S PERSPECTIVE