Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker Rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
Key claim: Commercial vessels in the central Gulf of Alaska generally can no longer keep shortraker rockfish they catch because the 2026 catch limit has been reached, except certain catcher-processors in the Rockfish Program.
Abstract
(Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) except by catcher/ processors checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who are fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit. This action is necessary because the 2026 shortraker rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA for vessels other than Central GOA Rockfish Program catcher/processors will soon be or has been reached.
Why this matters
Commercial vessels in the central Gulf of Alaska generally can no longer keep shortraker rockfish they catch because the 2026 catch limit has been reached, except certain catcher-processors in the Rockfish Program.