Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
Key claim: Federal fisheries managers have shut down directed Pacific cod fishing by trawl catcher vessels in the central Gulf of Alaska so that fleet does not exceed its 2026 catch limit.
Abstract
(Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Why this matters
In-season sector closures are the primary tool NMFS uses to keep Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod harvest within annual catch limits set under the FMP, and they directly determine when specific gear-and-vessel-class segments must stop targeting a stock. For affected trawl catcher vessels this ends directed cod fishing for the year, while consumer-facing cod supply and prices are typically unaffected by any single sector closure.