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Rule2025-04406

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Final 2025 and 2026 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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Published

March 18, 2025

Effective

March 18, 2025

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Abstract

NMFS announces the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the remainder of the 2025 and the start of the 2026 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI (FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

Full Text

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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 18, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12640-12677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04406]

[[Page 12639]]

Vol. 90

Tuesday,

No. 51

March 18, 2025

Part II

Department of Commerce

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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50 CFR Part 679

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands; Final 2025 and 2026 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish; Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 90 , No. 51 / Tuesday, March 18, 2025 / Rules
and Regulations

[[Page 12640]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 250312-0036]
RTID 0648-XE346

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; Final 2025 and 2026 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish

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

ACTION: Final rule; harvest specifications and closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances for the
groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for
groundfish during the remainder of the 2025 and the start of the 2026
fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI (FMP). The intended effect
of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in
the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Harvest specifications and closures are effective from 1200
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 18, 2025, through 1200 hours,
A.l.t., March 18, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record
of Decision (ROD), and the annual Supplementary Information Reports
(SIR) to the Final EIS prepared for this action are available from
<a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska</a>. The 2024 Stock Assessment
and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of
the BSAI, dated November 2024, as well as the SAFE reports for previous
years, are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) at 1007 West Third Ave., Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501,
phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's website at <a href="https://www.npfmc.org/">https://www.npfmc.org/</a>, and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center website at
<a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/population-assessments/north-pacific-groundfish-stock-assessments-and-fishery-evaluation">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/population-assessments/north-pacific-groundfish-stock-assessments-and-fishery-evaluation</a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
Council prepared, and NMFS approved, the FMP pursuant to the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear
at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify annually the overfishing
limit (OFL), acceptable biological catch (ABC), and total allowable
catch (TAC) for each target species. The sum of all TACs for target
groundfish species in the BSAI must be within the optimum yield (OY)
range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec.
679.20(a)(1)(i)(A) and 679.20(a)(2)). This final rule specifies the sum
of the TACs at 2.0 million mt for 2025 and 2.0 million mt for 2026.
NMFS also must specify: (1) apportionments of TACs; (2) PSC limits and
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by Sec. 679.21;
(3) seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel TAC;
(4) American Fisheries Act (AFA) allocations; (5) Amendment 80
allocations; (6) Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts
established by Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii); (7) ABC surpluses and ABC
reserves for CDQ groups and any Amendment 80 cooperatives for flathead
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole; and (8) halibut discard mortality
rates (DMR). The final harvest specifications set forth in tables 1
through 25 of this action satisfy these requirements.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires that NMFS consider public
comment on the proposed harvest specifications and, after consultation
with the Council, publish final harvest specifications in the Federal
Register. The proposed 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for the
groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in the Federal Register
on December 4, 2024 (89 FR 96186). Comments were invited and accepted
through January 3, 2025. As discussed in the Response to Comments
section below, NMFS received three letters raising 19 distinct comments
during the public comment period for the proposed BSAI groundfish
harvest specifications. NMFS's responses are included in the Response
to Comments section below.
NMFS consulted with the Council on the final 2025 and 2026 harvest
specifications during the December 2024 Council meeting. After
considering public comments during public meetings and submitted for
the proposed rule (89 FR 96186, December 4, 2024), as well as current
biological, ecosystem, socioeconomic, and harvest data, NMFS implements
in this final rule the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications as
recommended by the Council.

ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications

The final ABC amounts for BSAI groundfish are based on the best
available biological information, including projected biomass trends,
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised
technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In general, the
development of OFLs and ABCs involves sophisticated statistical
analyses of fish populations. The FMP specifies a series of six tiers
to define OFL and ABC amounts based on the level of reliable
information available to fishery scientists. Tier 1 represents the
highest level of information quality available, while Tier 6 represents
the lowest.
In December 2024, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed current
biological, ecosystem, socioeconomic, and harvest information about the
condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks. The Council's BSAI Groundfish
Plan Team (Plan Team) compiled and presented this information in the
2024 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2024
(see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report contains a review of the latest
scientific analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and other
biological parameters, as well as summaries of the available
information on the BSAI ecosystem and the economic condition of
groundfish fisheries off Alaska. NMFS notified the public of the
comment period for these harvest specifications--and of the publication
of the 2024 SAFE report--in the proposed harvest specifications (89 FR
96186, December 4, 2024). From the data and analyses in the SAFE
report, the Plan Team recommended an OFL and ABC for each species and
species group at the November 2024 Plan Team meeting.
In December 2024, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's
recommendations. The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs
recommended by the SSC, and were adjusted for other biological and
socioeconomic considerations, including the maintenance of the sum of
all the TACs within the required OY

[[Page 12641]]

range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As required by National
Standard 1 regulations (50 CFR 600.310) and the annual catch limit
rules for all fisheries (74 FR 3178, January 16, 2009) and consistent
with the FMP, none of the Council's recommended 2025 or 2026 TACs
exceed the final 2025 or 2026 ABCs for any species or species group.
NMFS finds that the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are
consistent with the preferred harvest strategy outlined in the FMP, as
well as the Final EIS and ROD, and the biological condition of
groundfish stocks as described in the 2024 SAFE report that was
approved by the Council, while accounting for ecosystem, socioeconomic,
and harvest information presented in the 2024 SAFE report (which
includes the Ecosystem Status Reports (ESR)).
NMFS has reviewed the recommendations of the SSC and Council for
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for target species and species groups in the BSAI
as well as any other relevant information. Based on that review, NMFS
is specifying the OFLs, ABCs, and TACs set forth in the tables of this
final rule as consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the FMP, and
other applicable law. Therefore, this final rule provides notification
that the Secretary of Commerce approves the final 2025 and 2026 harvest
specifications as recommended by the Council.
The 2025 harvest specifications set in this final action supersede
the 2025 harvest specifications previously set in the final 2024 and
2025 harvest specifications (89 FR 17287, March 11, 2024). Pursuant to
this final action, the 2025 harvest specifications are effective from
1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2025, and the 2026 harvest specifications are effective
from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t.,
March 18, 2026.

Other Actions Affecting the 2025 and 2026 Harvest Specifications

Amendment 125 to the FMP: Pacific Cod Small Boat Access

NMFS is developing a proposed rule to implement Amendment 125 to
the FMP, which, if approved, would revise the BSAI Pacific cod jig
sector during the A-season (January 1-April 30) to include hook-and-
line or pot CV less than or equal to 55 feet (ft) (16.8 meters (m))
length overall (LOA). All harvest from the revised A-season jig sector
would be deducted from the jig sector's 1.4 percent allocation
currently set in regulation (Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)). In addition, the
current hook-and-line or pot CV less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA sector
would be redefined from January 1 to April 30 so that harvest only from
hook-and-line or pot CVs with a LOA more than 55 ft (16.8 m) and less
than 60 ft LOA (55-59 ft) (16.8-18.0 m) would be deducted from the
hook-and-line or pot CV less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA sector's 2.0
percent allocation currently set in regulation (Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(ii)). If amendment 125 and its implementing regulations
are approved by the Secretary of Commerce, NMFS would incorporate the
changes in a future harvest specifications action, and any such changes
are anticipated for the 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications.

State of Alaska Guideline Harvest Levels

For 2025 and 2026, the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) established
the guideline harvest level (GHL) for vessels using pot, longline, jig,
and hand troll gear in the State of Alaska's (State) Aleutian Islands
(AI) sablefish registration area that includes all State waters west of
Scotch Cap Light (164[deg] 44.72' W longitude) and south of Cape
Sarichef (54[deg]36' N latitude). The 2025 AI GHL is set at 5 percent
(1,238 mt) of the combined 2025 Bering Sea subarea (BS) and AI subarea
ABC (mt). The 2026 AI GHL is set at 5 percent (1,223 mt) of the
combined 2026 BS subarea and AI subarea ABC. The State's AI sablefish
registration area includes areas adjacent to parts of the Federal BS
subarea. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP recommended that
the sum of all State and Federal waters sablefish removals from the BS
and AI not exceed the ABC recommendations for sablefish in the BS and
AI. Accordingly, after reviewing the Council recommendations, NMFS
approves that the 2025 and 2026 sablefish TACs in the BS and AI account
for the State's GHLs for sablefish caught in State waters.
For 2025 and 2026, the BOF for the State established the GHL for
vessels using pot gear in State waters in the BS equal to 13 percent of
the Pacific cod ABC in the BS. Under the State's management plan, the
BS GHL will increase by 1 percent if 90 percent of the GHL is harvested
by November 15 of the preceding year for two consecutive years but may
not exceed 15 percent of the BS ABC. If 90 percent of the GHL is not
harvested by November 15 of the preceding year for two consecutive
years, the GHL will decrease by 1 percent, but the GHL may not decrease
below 10 percent of the BS ABC. For 2025, the BS Pacific cod ABC is
153,617 mt, and for 2026, it is 141,520 mt. Based on the preceding
years' harvests in the State fishery, the GHL in the BS for pot gear
will be 13 percent for 2025 (19,970 mt) and is projected to be 13
percent for 2026 (18,398 mt). For 2025 and 2026, the BOF established an
additional GHL for vessels using jig gear in State waters in the BS
equal to 45 mt of Pacific cod in the BS. The Council and its Plan Team,
SSC, and AP recommended that the sum of all State and Federal waters
Pacific cod removals from the BS not exceed the ABC recommendations for
Pacific cod in the BS. Accordingly, after reviewing the Council
recommendations, NMFS approves that the 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs
in the BS account for the State's GHLs for Pacific cod caught in State
waters in the BS.
For 2025 and 2026, the BOF established the GHL for Pacific cod in
State waters in the AI equal to 35 percent of the AI ABC. Under the
State's management plan, the AI GHL will increase annually by 4 percent
of the AI ABC if 90 percent of the GHL is harvested by November 15 of
the preceding year, but may not exceed 39 percent of the AI ABC or 15
million pounds (6,804 mt). If 90 percent of the GHL is not harvested by
November 15 of the preceding year for two consecutive years, the GHL
will decrease by 4 percent, but the GHL may not decrease below 15
percent of the AI ABC. Based on the preceding years' harvests in the
State fishery, for 2025 the GHL in the AI will be 35 percent of the AI
ABC, which is 4,682 mt, and for 2026 is projected to be 35 percent of
the AI ABC, which is 4,541 mt. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and
AP recommended that the sum of all State and Federal waters Pacific cod
removals from the AI not exceed the ABC recommendations for Pacific cod
in the AI. Accordingly, after reviewing the Council's recommendations,
NMFS approves that the 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs in the AI account
for the State's GHLs for Pacific cod caught in State waters in the AI.

Changes From the Proposed 2025 and 2026 Harvest Specifications for the
BSAI

In October 2024, the Council's recommendations for the proposed
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications (89 FR 96186, December 4, 2024)
were based on information contained in the 2023 SAFE report for the
BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2023. In October 2024, the
Council recommended that proposed 2025 and 2026 OFLs and ABCs be based
on rollovers of the 2025 amounts from the final 2024 and 2025 harvest
specifications (89 FR 17287, March 11, 2024). In making this

[[Page 12642]]

recommendation, the Council used the best information available from
the 2023 stock assessments until the 2024 SAFE report could be
completed.
In December 2024, the Council's recommendations for the final 2025
and 2026 harvest specifications were based on information contained in
the 2024 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November
2024. The SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific
analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and other biological
parameters, as well as summaries of the available information on the
BSAI ecosystem, including the stock-specific risk tables and
information from the BS ESR and AI ESR.
The ESRs compile and summarize information about the status of the
Alaska marine ecosystems for the Plan Team, SSC, AP, Council, NMFS, and
the public. These ESRs are updated annually and include ecosystem
report cards, ecosystem assessments, and ecosystem status indicators
(i.e., climate indices, sea surface temperature), which together
provide context for ecosystem-based fisheries management in Alaska. The
ESRs inform stock assessments and are integrated in the annual harvest
recommendations through inclusion in stock assessments, including
stock-specific risk tables. The ESRs provide context for the SSC's
recommendations for OFLs and ABCs, as well as for the Council's TAC
recommendations. The SAFE reports and the ESRs are presented to the
Plan Team and at the October and December Council meetings before the
SSC, AP, and Council make groundfish harvest recommendations and they
aid NMFS in implementing these annual groundfish harvest
specifications.
The SAFE report also includes information on the economic condition
of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska through the Economic Status
Report. The SAFE report provides information to the Council and NMFS
for recommending and setting, respectively, annual harvest levels for
each stock, and documenting significant trends or changes in the
resource, marine ecosystems, and fisheries over time. From these data
and analyses, the Plan Team recommends, and the SSC sets, an OFL and
ABC for each species and species group.
The AP and Council review the recommended OFLs and ABCs and
recommend TACs for each species and species group such that TACs do not
exceed ABCs and ABCs do not exceed OFLs. The Council recommended a
final 2025 BS pollock TAC that is an increase of 50,000 mt from the
proposed 2025 BS pollock TAC. The Council recommended a final 2026 BS
pollock TAC that is an increase of 50,000 mt from the proposed 2026 BS
pollock TAC. The Council also recommended to increase the BS Pacific
cod TAC by 2,385 mt in 2025 and to decrease the TAC by 8,140 mt in 2026
from the proposed TAC to match changes in ABC for BS Pacific cod. The
largest reduction was for yellowfin sole, which was reduced from the
proposed rule by 60,000 mt in 2025 and by 50,000 mt in 2026 due to
weakening market demand for yellowfin sole. In terms of tonnage, the
Council reduced their recommended final TACs from the proposed TACs for
several species of lower economic value to maintain an overall total
TAC within the required OY range of 1.4 to 2.0 million mt. Some
species, such as Atka mackerel, are economically valuable species whose
ABC increased in 2025, which allowed most of the 2025 TACs to increase
as well. Others, such as Alaska plaice and skates, have decreased TACs
due to anticipated decreased incidental catches in other fisheries.
Central Aleutian Island (CAI) Atka mackerel had the largest increase in
2025 in terms of percentage, while Greenland turbot had the largest
decrease in 2025 and 2026 due to a declining ABC. The changes to TACs
between the proposed and final harvest specifications are based on the
most recent scientific, biological, and socioeconomic information and
are consistent with the FMP, regulatory obligations, and the harvest
strategy from the Final EIS and ROD as described in the proposed and
final harvest specifications, including the required OY range of 1.4
million to 2.0 million mt. These changes are compared in table A.
Table 1 lists the final 2025 OFL, ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ
reserve allocations, and non-specified reserves of the BSAI groundfish
species and species groups; and table 2 lists the final 2026 OFL, ABC,
TAC, ITAC, CDQ reserve allocations, and non-specified reserves of the
BSAI groundfish species and species groups. These final 2025 and 2026
TAC amounts for the BSAI are within the OY range established for the
BSAI and do not exceed the ABC for any species or species group. These
final 2025 and 2026 ABCs do not exceed the OFL for any species or
species group. The apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and
seasons is discussed below.

Table 1--Final 2025 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ Reserve Allocation,
and Nonspecified Reserves of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2025
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Species Area Nonspecified
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\ reserves
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Pollock \4\............................ BS............................ 2,957,000 2,417,000 1,375,000 1,237,500 137,500 ..............
AI............................ 55,728 46,051 19,000 17,100 1,900 ..............
Bogoslof...................... 77,354 58,015 250 250 ........... ..............
Pacific cod \5\........................ BS............................ 183,509 153,617 133,602 119,306 14,295 ..............
AI............................ 16,782 13,376 8,694 7,764 930 ..............
Sablefish \6\.......................... Alaska-wide................... 58,532 47,605 n/a n/a n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 13,203 8,496 7,009 1,168 319
AI............................ n/a 11,566 7,940 6,451 1,340 149
Yellowfin sole......................... BSAI.......................... 299,247 262,557 135,000 120,555 14,445 ..............
Greenland turbot....................... BSAI.......................... 2,598 1,678 1,678 1,426 n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 1,415 1,415 1,203 151 61
AI............................ n/a 263 263 224 ........... 39
Arrowtooth flounder.................... BSAI.......................... 104,428 88,683 14,000 11,900 1,498 602
Kamchatka flounder..................... BSAI.......................... 8,019 6,800 6,800 5,780 ........... 1,020
Rock sole \7\.......................... BSAI.......................... 165,444 157,487 75,000 66,975 8,025 ..............
Flathead sole \8\...................... BSAI.......................... 101,621 83,807 36,000 32,148 3,852 ..............
Alaska plaice.......................... BSAI.......................... 34,576 28,745 15,903 13,518 ........... 2,385
Other flatfish \9\..................... BSAI.......................... 26,083 19,562 4,500 3,825 ........... 675
Pacific ocean perch.................... BSAI.......................... 44,594 37,375 33,458 29,443 n/a ..............

[[Page 12643]]

BS............................ n/a 10,121 10,121 8,603 ........... 1,518
EAI........................... n/a 6,278 6,278 5,606 672 ..............
CAI........................... n/a 5,559 5,559 4,964 595 ..............
WAI........................... n/a 15,417 11,500 10,270 1,231 ..............
Northern rockfish...................... BSAI.......................... 22,848 18,694 12,000 10,200 ........... 1,800
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish \10\.... BSAI.......................... 838 706 706 600 ........... 106
BS/EAI........................ n/a 408 408 347 ........... 61
CAI/WAI....................... n/a 298 298 253 ........... 45
Shortraker rockfish.................... BSAI.......................... 631 473 473 402 ........... 71
Other rockfish \11\.................... BSAI.......................... 1,406 1,054 1,054 896 ........... 158
BS............................ n/a 639 639 543 ........... 96
AI............................ n/a 415 415 353 ........... 62
Atka mackerel.......................... BSAI.......................... 122,622 103,247 82,000 73,226 8,774 ..............
BS/EAI........................ n/a 46,650 39,000 34,827 4,173 ..............
CAI........................... n/a 26,511 24,443 21,828 2,615 ..............
WAI........................... n/a 30,087 18,557 16,571 1,986 ..............
Skates................................. BSAI.......................... 44,086 36,523 27,646 23,499 ........... 4,147
Sharks................................. BSAI.......................... 689 450 400 340 ........... 60
Octopuses.............................. BSAI.......................... 6,080 4,560 400 340 ........... 60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.............................. .............................. 4,334,715 3,588,065 2,000,000 1,790,454 196,367 13,166
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Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BSAI = Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI =
Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian district, CAI = Central Aleutian district, WAI = Western Aleutian district). The 2025 harvest
specifications are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025.
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
harvest specifications, the Bering Sea subarea (BS) includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole,
flathead sole, Pacific cod, and AI Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is placed into a non-specified reserve (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The
ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ
allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, Pacific cod, and AI Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the
TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, 7.5 percent
of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for BS Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ
participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). AI Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, BS Pacific ocean perch, Kamchatka
flounder, northern rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, ``other rockfish,'' skates, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated
to the CDQ Program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance, is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; catcher/processor
(CP)--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1) requires the AI pollock TAC to be set at 19,000 mt when the AI pollock
ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing
allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance, is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. The
Bogoslof pollock TAC is set to accommodate incidental catch amounts.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 13 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in
State waters of the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for 35 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of
the AI.
\6\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are Alaska-wide and include the Gulf of Alaska. The Alaska-wide sablefish OFL and ABC are included in the total OFL and
ABC. The BS and AI sablefish TACs are set to account for the 5 percent of the BS and AI ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level
in State waters of the BS and AI.
\7\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (southern rock sole).
\8\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\9\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\10\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted) and Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye).
\11\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/
rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish.

Table A--Comparison of Final 2025 and 2026 With Proposed 2025 and 2026 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 2026
2025 and 2025 percentage 2026 percentage
Species Area \1\ 2026 2025 final difference difference 2026 final difference difference
proposed TAC from from TAC from from
TAC proposed proposed proposed proposed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock............................... BS................... 1,325,000 1,375,000 50,000 3.8 1,375,000 50,000 3.8
AI................... 19,000 19,000 ........... ........... 19,000 ........... 0.0
Bogoslof............. 250 250 ........... ........... 250 ........... 0.0
Pacific cod........................... BS................... 131,217 133,602 2,384.79 1.8 123,077 (8,139.60) (6.2)
AI................... 8,080 8,694 614.25 7.6 8,432 352.30 4.4
Sablefish............................. BS................... 9,500 8,496 (1,004) (10.6) 8,996 (504) (5.3)
AI................... 8,440 7,940 (500) (5.9) 7,440 (1,000) (11.8)
Yellowfin sole........................ BSAI................. 195,000 135,000 (60,000) (30.8) 145,000 (50,000) (25.6)
Greenland turbot...................... BS................... 2,310 1,328 (982) (42.5) 1,120 (1,190) (51.5)
AI................... 430 263 (167) (38.8) 208 (222) (51.6)
Arrowtooth flounder................... BSAI................. 14,000 14,000 ........... ........... 14,000 ........... 0.0
Kamchatka flounder.................... BSAI................. 7,360 6,800 (560) (7.6) 6,606 (754) (10.2)
Rock sole............................. BSAI................. 66,000 75,000 9,000 13.6 75,000 9,000 13.6
Flathead sole......................... BSAI................. 35,500 36,000 500 1.4 36,000 500 1.4
Alaska plaice......................... BSAI................. 20,000 15,903 (4,097) (20.5) 16,200 (3,800) (19.0)

[[Page 12644]]

Other flatfish........................ BSAI................. 4,500 4,500 ........... ........... 4,500 ........... 0.0
Pacific ocean perch................... BS................... 11,430 10,121 (1,309) (11.5) 9,905 (1,525) (13.3)
EAI.................. 7,828 6,278 (1,550) (19.8) 6,144 (1,684) (21.5)
CAI.................. 5,423 5,559 136 2.5 5,441 18 0.3
WAI.................. 12,500 11,500 (1,000) (8.0) 12,000 (500) (4.0)
Northern rockfish..................... BSAI................. 15,000 12,000 (3,000) (20.0) 12,000 (3,000) (20.0)
Blackspotted and Rougheye rockfish.... BS/EAI............... 412 408 (4) (1.0) 441 29 7.0
CAI/WAI.............. 195 298 103 52.8 325 130 66.7
Shortraker rockfish................... BSAI................. 530 473 (57) (10.8) 473 (57) (10.8)
Other rockfish........................ BS................... 880 639 (241) (27.4) 639 (241) (27.4)
AI................... 380 415 35 9.2 415 35 9.2
Atka mackerel......................... EAI/BS............... 30,000 39,000 9,000 30.0 41,731 11,731 39.1
CAI.................. 14,877 24,443 9,566 64.3 23,716 8,839 59.4
WAI.................. 21,288 18,557 (2,731) (12.8) 17,494 (3,793.90) (17.8)
Skates................................ BSAI................. 30,361 27,646 (2,715) (8.9) 27,646 (2,715) (8.9)
Sharks................................ BSAI................. 400 400 ........... ........... 400 ........... 0.0
Octopuses............................. BSAI................. 400 400 ........... ........... 400 ........... 0.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................. ..................... 1,998,491 2,000,000 1,509 0.1 2,000,000 1,508.85 0.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District (EAI),
Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI).

Table 2--Final 2026 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ Reserve Allocation,
and Nonspecified Reserves of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2026
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Area Nonspecified
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\ reserves
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\............................ BS............................ 2,496,000 2,036,000 1,375,000 1,237,500 137,500 ..............
AI............................ 56,231 46,437 19,000 17,100 1,900 ..............
Bogoslof...................... 77,354 58,015 250 250 ........... ..............
Pacific cod \5\........................ BS............................ 169,243 141,520 123,077 109,908 13,169 ..............
AI............................ 16,273 12,973 8,432 7,530 902 ..............
Sablefish \6\.......................... Alaska-wide................... 57,797 47,008 n/a n/a n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 13,037 8,996 3,823 337 337
AI............................ n/a 11,421 7,440 1,581 140 140
Yellowfin sole......................... BSAI.......................... 305,039 267,639 145,000 129,485 15,515 ..............
Greenland turbot....................... BSAI.......................... 2,059 1,328 1,328 1,129 n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 1,120 1,120 952 120 48
AI............................ n/a 208 208 177 ........... 31
Arrowtooth flounder.................... BSAI.......................... 102,472 87,035 14,000 11,900 1,498 602
Kamchatka flounder..................... BSAI.......................... 7,790 6,606 6,606 5,615 ........... 991
Rock sole \7\.......................... BSAI.......................... 166,220 158,225 75,000 66,975 8,025 ..............
Flathead sole \8\...................... BSAI.......................... 106,283 87,700 36,000 32,148 3,852 ..............
Alaska plaice.......................... BSAI.......................... 33,965 28,230 16,200 13,770 ........... 2,430
Other flatfish \9\..................... BSAI.......................... 26,083 19,562 4,500 3,825 ........... 675
Pacific ocean perch.................... BSAI.......................... 43,084 36,578 33,490 29,481 n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 9,905 9,905 8,419 ........... 1,486
EAI........................... n/a 6,144 6,144 5,487 657 ..............
CAI........................... n/a 5,441 5,441 4,859 582 ..............
WAI........................... n/a 16,058 12,000 10,716 1,284 ..............
Northern rockfish...................... BSAI.......................... 22,284 18,232 12,000 10,200 ........... 1,800
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish \10\.... BSAI.......................... 902 766 766 651 ........... 115
BS/EAI........................ n/a 441 441 375 ........... 66
CAI/WAI....................... n/a 325 325 276 ........... 49
Shortraker rockfish.................... BSAI.......................... 631 473 473 402 ........... 71
Other rockfish \11\.................... BSAI.......................... 1,406 1,054 1,054 896 ........... 158
BS............................ n/a 639 639 543 ........... 96
AI............................ n/a 415 415 353 ........... 62
Atka mackerel.......................... BSAI.......................... 107,889 92,361 82,941 74,066 8,875 ..............
EAI/BS........................ n/a 41,731 41,731 37,266 4,465 ..............
CAI........................... n/a 23,716 23,716 21,178 2,538 ..............
WAI........................... n/a 26,914 17,494 15,622 1,872 ..............
Skates................................. BSAI.......................... 43,285 35,833 27,646 23,499 ........... 4,147
Sharks................................. BSAI.......................... 689 450 400 340 ........... 60
Octopuses.............................. BSAI.......................... 6,080 4,560 400 340 ........... 60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.............................. .............................. 3,849,059 3,188,585 2,000,000 1,782,415 194,357 13,151
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BSAI=Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, BS=Bering Sea subarea,
AI=Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI=Eastern Aleutian district, CAI=Central Aleutian district, WAI=Western Aleutian district). The 2026 harvest
specifications are effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.

[[Page 12645]]

\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
harvest specifications, the Bering Sea subarea (BS) includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole,
flathead sole, Pacific cod, and AI Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified reserve (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC
for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ
allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, Pacific cod, and AI Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the
TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, 7.5 percent of
the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for BS Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ
participants (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). The 2026 fixed gear portion of the sablefish ITAC and CDQ reserve will not be specified until the
final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications. AI Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, BS Pacific ocean perch, Kamchatka flounder,
northern rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, ``other rockfish,'' skates, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ
program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance, is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; CP--40 percent; and
motherships--10 percent. Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1) requires the AI pollock TAC to be set at 19,000 mt when the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds
19,000 mt. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10
percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance, is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. The Bogoslof pollock TAC
is set to accommodate incidental catch amounts.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 13 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in
State waters of the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for 35 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of
the AI.
\6\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are Alaska-wide and include the Gulf of Alaska. The Alaska-wide sablefish OFL and ABC are included in the total OFL and
ABC. The BS and AI sablefish TACs are set to account for the 5 percent of the BS and AI ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level
in State waters of the BS and AI.
\7\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (southern rock sole).
\8\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\9\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\10\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted) and Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye).
\11\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/
rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish.

Groundfish Reserves and the ICAs for Pollock, Atka Mackerel, Flathead
Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and AI Pacific Ocean Perch

Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires that NMFS reserve 15 percent of
the TAC for each target species (except for pollock, fixed gear
allocation of sablefish, and Amendment 80 species) in a non-specified
reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS allocate 20
percent of the fixed gear allocation of sablefish to the fixed-gear
sablefish CDQ reserve for each subarea. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)
requires that NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocations
of sablefish in the BS and AI and 10.7 percent of the BS Greenland
turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to the respective CDQ reserves.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that NMFS allocate 10.7 percent of
the TACs for the Amendment 80 species, which includes Atka mackerel, AI
Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and
Pacific cod to the respective CDQ reserves.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(A) requires that 10 percent of the BS
pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ directed fishing allowance
(DFA). Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(A) requires that 10 percent of the AI
pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ DFA. The entire Bogoslof
District pollock TAC is allocated as an incidental catch allowance
(ICA) pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii) because the Bogoslof District
is closed to directed fishing for pollock by regulation (Sec.
679.22(a)(7)(B)). With the exception of the fixed gear sablefish CDQ
reserve, the regulations do not further apportion the CDQ allocations
by gear.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS establishes a pollock
ICA of 46,000 mt of the BS pollock TAC after subtracting the 10 percent
CDQ DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS's examination of the pollock
incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock in the most recent years. Pursuant
to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), NMFS establishes a pollock ICA of
3,000 mt of the AI pollock TAC after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ
DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS's examination of the pollock
incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock from recent years.
After subtracting the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve and pursuant to
Sec. 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of 2,000 mt of
flathead sole, 3,000 mt of rock sole, 2,000 mt of yellowfin sole, 10 mt
of Western Aleutian district (WAI) Pacific ocean perch, 60 mt of CAI
Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of Eastern Aleutian district (EAI) Pacific
ocean perch, 20 mt of WAI Atka mackerel, 100 mt of CAI Atka mackerel,
and 800 mt of EAI and BS Atka mackerel. These ICAs are based on NMFS's
examination of the incidental catch in other target fisheries from
recent years.
The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species that contributed to the non-specified
reserves during the year, provided that such apportionments are
consistent with Sec. 679.20(a)(3) and do not result in overfishing
(see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The Regional Administrator has determined
that the ITACs specified for two species groups listed in tables 1 and
2 need to be supplemented from the non-specified reserve because U.S.
fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the full TAC
allocations. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b), NMFS is
apportioning the amounts shown in table 3 from the non-specified
reserve to increase the ITAC for AI ``other rockfish'' and
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish in the CAI/WAI by 15 percent of their
TACs in 2025 and 2026.

Table 3--Final 2025 and 2026 Apportionment of Non-Specified Reserves to ITAC Categories
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 Reserve 2025 Final 2026 Reserve 2026 Final
Species-area or subarea 2025 ITAC amount TAC 2026 ITAC amount TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish-Aleutian Islands 353 62 415 353 62 415
subarea........................
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish-- 253 45 298 276 49 325
CAI/WAI districts..............
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... 606 107 713 629 111 740
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The 2025 apportionments are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2025. The 2026 apportionments are effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through
1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.

[[Page 12646]]

Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the AFA

Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the BS pollock TAC be
apportioned as a DFA, after subtracting 10 percent for the CDQ program
and 46,000 mt for the ICA in both 2025 and 2026, as follows: 50 percent
to the inshore sector, 40 percent to the catcher/processor (CP) sector,
and 10 percent to the mothership sector. In the BS, 45 percent of the
DFAs are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10), and 55 percent
of the DFAs are allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1)
(Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(B)(1) and 679.23(e)(2)). The AI directed
pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the amount of
pollock TAC remaining in the AI after subtracting 10 percent (1,900 mt)
for the CDQ DFA and 3,000 mt for the ICA (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)). In the AI, the total A season apportionment
of the TAC (including the AI directed fishery allocation, the CDQ DFA,
and the ICA) may not exceed 40 percent of the ABC for AI pollock, and
the remainder of the TAC is allocated to the B season (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(3)). Tables 4 and 5 list these 2025 and 2026
amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6) sets harvest limits for pollock in
the A season (January 20 to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541. In
accordance with this regulation, NMFS establishes harvest limits for
pollock in the A season in Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area
542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
percent of the AI pollock ABC.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding BS pollock allocations. First, it requires that
8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the CP sector be available for
harvest by AFA CVs with CP sector endorsements, unless the Regional
Administrator receives a cooperative contract that allows for the
distribution of harvest among AFA CPs and AFA CVs in a manner agreed to
by all members. Second, AFA CPs not listed in the AFA are limited to
harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the CP
sector. Tables 4 and 5 list the 2025 and 2026 allocations of pollock
TAC. Table 6 lists the 2025 inshore sector allocation among AFA inshore
cooperatives and AFA open access vessels. The 2026 AFA CV cooperative
membership will not be known until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by December 1, 2025. Table 21 lists the
CDQ allocation of pollock among the CDQ groups. Tables 23, 24, and 25
list the AFA CP and CV harvesting and PSC sideboard limits.
Tables 4, 5, and 6 also list seasonal apportionments of pollock and
harvest limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The
harvest of pollock within the SCA, as defined at Sec.
679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more than 28 percent of the annual
pollock DFA before 12 p.m. A.l.t. (noon), April 1, as provided in Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season pollock SCA harvest limit is
apportioned to each sector in proportion to each sector's allocated
percentage of the DFA.

Table 4--Final 2025 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 A season \1\ 2025 B
2025 ----------------------------- season \1\
Area and sector Allocations A season SCA harvest -------------
DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\............................. 1,375,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA................................................ 137,500 61,875 38,500 75,625
ICA \1\................................................ 46,000 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA........................... 1,191,500 536,175 333,620 655,325
AFA Inshore............................................ 595,750 268,088 166,810 327,663
AFA CPs \3\............................................ 476,600 214,470 133,448 262,130
Catch by CPs....................................... 436,089 196,240 n/a 239,849
Catch by CVs \3\................................... 40,511 18,230 n/a 22,281
Unlisted CP Limit \4\.............................. 2,383 1,072 n/a 1,311
AFA Motherships........................................ 119,150 53,618 33,362 65,533
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\......................... 208,513 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\......................... 357,450 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC........................... 46,051 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\....................... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA................................................ 1,900 1,900 n/a ............
ICA.................................................... 3,000 1,500 n/a 1,500
Aleut Corporation...................................... 14,100 14,100 n/a ............
Area harvest limit \7\................................. n/a n/a n/a n/a
541................................................ 13,815 n/a n/a n/a
542................................................ 6,908 n/a n/a n/a
543................................................ 2,303 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\.............................. 250 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2025 harvest specifications
for pollock are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
2025.
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the
CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (46,000 mt), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50
percent, catcher/processor sector (CP)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the Bering Sea
subarea, 45 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent
of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). When the AI pollock ABC equals or
exceeds 19,000 mt, the annual TAC is equal to 19,000 mt (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the AI subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and
second for the ICA (3,000 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI
subarea, the A season is allocated no more than 40 percent of the AI pollock ABC.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's
annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before noon, April 1. The SCA is defined at Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(vii).
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the allocation to listed CPs shall be available for
harvest only by eligible CVs with a CP endorsement delivering to listed CPs, unless there is a CP sector
cooperative contract for the year.

[[Page 12647]]

\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted CPs are limited to harvesting not more than
0.5 percent of the CP sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
percent of the AI pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(i)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(ii)).

Table 5--Final 2026 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 A season \1\ 2025 B
2025 ----------------------------- season \1\
Area and sector Allocations A season SCA harvest -------------
DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\............................. 1,375,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA................................................ 137,500 61,875 38,500 75,625
ICA \1\................................................ 46,000 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA........................... 1,191,500 536,175 333,620 655,325
AFA Inshore............................................ 595,750 268,088 166,810 327,663
AFA CPs................................................ 476,600 214,470 133,448 262,130
Catch by CPs....................................... 436,089 196,240 n/a 239,849
Catch by CVs \3\................................... 40,511 18,230 n/a 22,281
Unlisted CP Limit \4\.............................. 2,383 1,072 n/a 1,311
AFA Motherships........................................ 119,150 53,618 33,362 65,533
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\......................... 208,513 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\......................... 357,450 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC........................... 46,437 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\....................... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA................................................ 1,900 1,900 n/a ............
ICA.................................................... 3,000 1,500 n/a 1,500
Aleut Corporation...................................... 14,100 14,100 n/a ............
Area harvest limit \7\................................. n/a n/a n/a n/a
541................................................ 13,931 n/a n/a n/a
542................................................ 6,966 n/a n/a n/a
543................................................ 2,322 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\.............................. 250 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2026 harvest specifications
for pollock are effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18,
2026.
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the
CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (46,000 mt), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50
percent, catcher/processor sector (CP)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the Bering Sea
subarea, 45 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent
of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). When the AI pollock ABC equals or
exceeds 19,000 mt, the annual TAC is equal to 19,000 mt (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the AI subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and
second for the ICA (3,000 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI
subarea, the A season is allocated no more than 40 percent of the AI pollock ABC.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's
annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before noon, April 1. The SCA is defined at Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(vii).
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the allocation to listed CPs shall be available for
harvest only by eligible CVs with a CP endorsement delivering to listed CPs, unless there is a CP sector
cooperative contract for the year.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted CPs are limited to harvesting not more than
0.5 percent of the CP sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
percent of the AI pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(i)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(ii)).

Table 6--Final 2025 AFA Inshore Cooperative and Open Access Pollock Allocations
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum of vessel's 2025
Cooperative name \1\ % of Inshore sector catch histories Allocations
allocation (mt) \2\ (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFA Open Access......................................... 0.925932 18,414 5,516
Akutan Catcher Vessel Association....................... 33.787794 295,836 201,291
Arctic Enterprise Association........................... 0.000000 0 0
Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative....................... 9.345631 81,828 55,677

[[Page 12648]]

Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative............................. 0.000000 0 0
Unalaska Fleet Cooperative (Alyeska).................... 12.261341 107,357 73,047
UniSea Fleet Cooperative................................ 24.299652 202,454 144,765
Westward Fleet Cooperative.............................. 19.379650 169,683 115,454
Sum of all Cooperatives................................. 100.00 875,572 595,750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2025 allocations are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2025. The 2026 AFA CV cooperative membership will not be known until eligible participants apply
for participation in the program by December 1, 2025. NMFS will specify the 2026 AFA inshore cooperative and
open access pollock allocations in the 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications.
\2\ According to regulations at Sec. 679.62(a)(1), the individual catch history for each vessel is equal to
the vessel's best 2 of 3 years inshore pollock landings from 1995 through 1997 and includes non-CDQ offshore
landings to CPs for vessels that made 500 or more mt of landings to CPs or offshore motherships from 1995
through 1997.

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs

Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtracting
the CDQ reserves, ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and
non-trawl gear sector, and the jig gear allocation (tables 7 and 8).
The percentage of the ITAC for Atka mackerel allocated to the Amendment
80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is listed in table 33 to 50
CFR part 679 and in Sec. 679.91. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(i), up
to 2 percent of the EAI district and the BS subarea Atka mackerel TAC
may be allocated to vessels using jig gear. The percent of this
allocation is recommended annually by the Council based on several
criteria, including, among other criteria, the anticipated harvest
capacity of the jig gear fleet. After reviewing the Council's
recommendation, NMFS approves a 0.5 percent allocation of the Atka
mackerel TAC in the EAI district and BS subarea to the jig gear sector
in 2025 and 2026.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel TAC, after
subtraction of the jig gear allocation, into two equal seasonal
allowances. Section 679.23(e)(3) sets the first seasonal allowance for
directed fishing with trawl gear from January 20 through June 10 (A
season), and the second seasonal allowance from June 10 through
December 31 (B season). Section 679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies Atka mackerel
seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel trawl fishing. Within any fishing year,
any under harvest or over harvest of a seasonal allowance may be added
to or subtracted from a subsequent seasonal allowance (Sec.
679.20(a)(8)(ii)(B)). The ICAs and jig gear allocations are not
apportioned by season.
Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and (ii) limits Atka mackerel
catch within waters 0 nautical miles (nmi) to 20 nmi of Steller sea
lion sites listed in table 6 to 50 CFR part 679 and located west of
178[deg] W longitude to no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in
Areas 542 and 543. The annual harvest is also equally divided between
the A and B seasons as defined at Sec. 679.23(e)(3). Section
679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that the annual TAC in Area 543 will be
no more than 65 percent of the ABC in Area 543. Section
679.20(a)(8)(ii)(D) requires that any unharvested Atka mackerel A
season allowance that is added to the B season be prohibited from being
harvested within waters 0 nmi to 20 nmi of Steller sea lion sites
listed in table 6 to 50 CFR part 679 and located in Areas 541, 542, and
543.
Tables 7 and 8 list these 2025 and 2026 Atka mackerel seasonal and
area allowances, and the sector allocations. One Amendment 80
cooperative has formed for the 2025 fishing year. Because all Amendment
80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative, no allocation
to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for 2025. The
2026 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives
and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by
November 1, 2025. Table 21 lists the allocation of CDQ Atka mackerel
among the CDQ groups.

Table 7--Final 2025 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 Allocation by area
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Season \2\ \3\ \4\ Eastern Aleutian
District/Bering Central Aleutian Western Aleutian
Sea District \5\ District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC............................. n/a............... 39,000 24,443 18,557
CDQ reserve..................... Total............. 4,173 2,615 1,986
A................. 2,087 1,308 993
Critical Habitat.. n/a 785 596
B................. 2,087 1,308 993
Critical Habitat.. n/a 785 596
Non-CDQ TAC..................... n/a............... 34,827 21,828 16,571
ICA............................. Total............. 800 100 20
Jig \6\......................... Total............. 170 .................. ..................
BSAI trawl limited access....... Total............. 3,386 2,173 ..................
A................. 1,693 1,086 ..................
Critical Habitat.. n/a 652 ..................
B................. 1,693 1,086 ..................

[[Page 12649]]

Critical Habitat.. n/a 652 ..................
Amendment 80 sector............. Total............. 30,471 19,555 16,551
A................. 15,236 9,777 8,276
Critical Habitat.. n/a 5,866 4,965
B................. 15,236 9,777 8,276
Critical Habitat.. n/a 5,866 4,965
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2025 harvest specifications
for Atka mackerel are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December
31, 2025.
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and jig
gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in table 33 to 50 CFR
part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel for the CDQ reserve, BSAI trawl limited access sector, and
Amendment 80 sector are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
be caught inside of Steller sea lion protection areas; 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual
catch inside of Steller sea lion protection areas between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec.
679.23(e)(3); and 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of
ABC in Area 543.
\6\ Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian Islands District and
the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets
the amount of this allocation for 2025 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.

Table 8--Final 2026 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2026 Allocation by area
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Season \2\ \3\ \4\ Eastern Aleutian
District/Bering Central Aleutian Western Aleutian
Sea \5\ District \5\ District \5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC............................. n/a............... 41,731 23,716 17,494
CDQ reserve..................... Total............. 4,465 2,538 1,872
A................. 2,233 1,269 936
Critical Habitat.. n/a 761 562
B................. 2,233 1,269 936
Critical Habitat.. n/a 761 562
non-CDQ TAC..................... n/a............... 37,266 21,178 15,622
ICA............................. Total............. 800 100 20
Jig \6\......................... Total............. 182 .................. ..................
BSAI trawl limited access....... Total............. 3,628 2,108 ..................
A................. 1,814 1,054 ..................
Critical Habitat.. n/a 632 ..................
B................. 1,814 1,054 ..................
Critical Habitat.. n/a 632 ..................
Amendment 80 sectors \7\........ Total............. 32,655 18,971 15,602
A................. 16,328 9,485 7,801
Critical Habitat.. n/a 5,691 4,681
B................. 16,328 9,485 7,801
Critical Habitat.. n/a 5,691 4,681
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2026 harvest specifications
for Atka mackerel are effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March
18, 2026.
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and jig
gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in table 33 to 50 CFR
part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel for the CDQ reserve, BSAI trawl limited access sector, and
Amendment 80 sector are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
be caught inside of Steller sea lion protection areas; 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual
catch inside of Steller sea lion protection areas between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec.
679.23(e)(3); and 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of
ABC in Area 543.

[[Page 12650]]

\6\ Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian Islands District and
the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets
the amount of this allocation for 2026 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
\7\ The 2026 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1,
2025.

Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC

Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) allocates 10.7 percent of the BS TAC
and the AI TAC to the CDQ program. After CDQ allocations have been
deducted from the respective BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, the remaining
BSAI Pacific cod TACs are combined for calculating further BSAI Pacific
cod sector allocations and seasonal allowances. If the non-CDQ Pacific
cod TAC is or will be reached in either the BS or the AI subareas, NMFS
will prohibit non-CDQ directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea
as provided in Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Section 679.20(a)(7)(ii) allocates to the non-CDQ sectors the
Pacific cod TAC in the combined BSAI, after subtracting 10.7 percent
for the CDQ program, as follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear;
2.0 percent to hook-and-line or pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA;
0.2 percent to hook-and-line CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3
m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-and-line CPs; 8.4 percent to pot CVs
greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5 percent to pot CPs;
2.3 percent to AFA trawl CPs; 13.4 percent to Amendment 80 sector; and
22.1 percent to trawl CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot
sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. For 2025 and 2026, the
Regional Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 mt based on
anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in directed fisheries for
groundfish other than Pacific cod. During the fishing year, NMFS may
reallocate unharvested Pacific cod among sectors, consistent with the
reallocation hierarchy set forth at Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii).
The ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector is
established in table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and Sec. 679.91. One
Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2025 fishing year. Because
all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative,
no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for
2025. The 2026 allocations for Pacific cod between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be
known until eligible participants apply for participation in the
program by November 1, 2025.
The BSAI ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the Pacific Cod Trawl
Cooperative (PCTC) Program is established in Sec. 679.131(b). Section
679.131(b)(1)(i) also requires NMFS to establish an ICA for incidental
catch of Pacific cod in the A and B seasons by trawl CVs engaged in
directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program Pacific cod. In
the annual harvest specification process, NMFS determines the Pacific
cod trawl CV TAC and the annual apportionment of Pacific cod in the A
and B seasons between the PCTC Program DFA and the ICA (Sec.
679.131(b)(2)) (tables 9 and 10 below). The 2025 PCTC cooperative
allocations and PSC limits are listed in table 11. The 2026 allocations
for PCTC Program cooperatives will not be known until NMFS receives the
membership applications by November 1, 2025.
The sector allocations of Pacific cod are apportioned into seasonal
allowances to disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year
(see Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) (CDQ), 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) (non-
CDQ), and 679.23(e)(5) (seasons)). Tables 9 and 10 list the CDQ and
non-CDQ sector allocations and the non-CDQ seasonal allowances. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused portion
of a non-CDQ Pacific cod seasonal allowance for any sector, except the
jig sector, will become available at the beginning of that sector's
next seasonal allowance. Section 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) sets forth the CDQ
Pacific cod gear allowances by season, and CDQ groups are prohibited
from exceeding those seasonal allowances (Sec. 679.7(d)(6)).
Section 679.20(a)(7)(vii) requires that the Regional Administrator
establish an Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit based on Pacific cod
abundance in Area 543 as determined by the annual stock assessment
process. Based on the 2024 stock assessment, the Regional Administrator
determined for 2025 and 2026 the estimated amount of Pacific cod
abundance in Area 543 is 36.5 percent of the total AI abundance. To
calculate the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit, NMFS first subtracts
the State GHL Pacific cod amount from the AI Pacific cod ABC. Then NMFS
determines the harvest limit in Area 543 by multiplying the percentage
of Pacific cod estimated in Area 543 (36.5 percent) by the remaining
ABC for AI Pacific cod. Based on these calculations, the Area 543
harvest limit is 3,173 mt for 2025, and 3,078 mt for 2026.
Under the PCTC Program, NMFS is required to specify an AI set-aside
of up to twelve percent of the PCTC Program A season cooperative quota
for delivery to an AI shoreplant in years in which an AI community
representative notifies NMFS of the intent to process PCTC Program
Pacific cod in the City of Adak or City of Atka (Sec. 679.132). A
notice of intent to process PCTC Program Pacific cod must be submitted
in writing to the Regional Administrator by a representative of the
City of Adak or the City of Atka no later than October 15. A notice of
intent was not received by October 15, 2024, and accordingly the AI
set-aside will not be in effect for 2025. The 2026 set-aside will be
determined after the October 15, 2025, deadline in conjunction with the
2026 and 2027 harvest specifications process.
Based on the final 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs, tables 9 and 10
list the CDQ and non-CDQ TAC amounts; non-CDQ seasonal allowances by
gear; the sector allocations of Pacific cod; and the seasons set forth
at Sec. 679.23(e)(5). The CDQ allocation of BS and AI Pacific cod
among the CDQ groups is listed in table 21.

Table 9--Final 2025 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 Seasonal allowances
Sector Percent 2025 Share of 2025 Share of -----------------------------------------------------------
gear sector total sector total Season Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea TAC...................... n/a 133,602 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Bering Sea CDQ............................ n/a 14,295 n/a See Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)................. n/a
Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC.................... n/a 119,307 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Total Aleutian Islands TAC................ n/a 8,694 n/a n/a........................................... n/a

[[Page 12651]]

Aleutian Islands CDQ...................... n/a 930 n/a See Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)................. n/a
Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC.............. n/a 7,764 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Western Aleutians Islands Limit........... n/a 3,173 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\................ 100.0 127,070 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.............. 60.8 77,259 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\................. n/a n/a 500 n/a........................................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total............... n/a 76,759 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Hook-and-line CPs......................... 48.7 n/a 61,483 n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 1-Jun 10.................................. 31,356
B-season.................................. Jun 10-Dec 31................................. 30,127
Hook-and-line CVs >= 60 ft LOA............ 0.2 n/a 252 n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 1-Jun 10.................................. 129
B-season.................................. Jun 10-Dec 31................................. 124
Pot CPs................................... 1.5 n/a 1,894 n/a........................................... n/a
Pot CPs A-season.......................... Jan 1-Jun 10.................................. 966
Pot CPs B-season.......................... Sept 1-Dec 31................................. 928
Pot CVs >= 60 ft LOA...................... 8.4 n/a 10,605 n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 1-Jun 10.................................. 5,408
B-season.................................. Sept 1-Dec 31................................. 5,196
CVs < 60 ft LOA using hook-and-line or pot 2.0 n/a 2,525 n/a........................................... n/a
gear.
Trawl CVs \3\............................. 22.1 28,083 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
A-Season ICA.............................. Jan 20-Apr 1.................................. 1,500
A-season PCTC............................. Jan 20-Apr 1.................................. 19,281
B-season ICA.............................. Apr 1-Jun 10.................................. 700
B-season PCTC............................. Apr 1-Jun 10.................................. 2,389
C-season trawl CVs........................ Jun 10-Nov 1.................................. 4,212
AFA trawl CPs............................. 2.3 2,923 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 20-Apr 1.................................. 2,192
B-season.................................. Apr 1-Jun 10.................................. 731
C-season.................................. Jun 10-Nov 1.................................. ..........
Amendment 80.............................. 13.4 17,027 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 20-Apr 1.................................. 12,771
B-season.................................. Apr 1-Jun 10.................................. 4,257
C-season.................................. Jun 10-Dec 31................................. ..........
Jig....................................... 1.4 1,779 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 1-Apr 30.................................. 1,067
B-season.................................. Apr 30-Aug 31................................. 356
C-season.................................. Aug 31-Dec 31................................. 356
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2025 harvest specifications for Pacific cod are effective from 1200
hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025.
\1\ The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after subtraction of
the reserves for the CDQ Program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the BS or AI subareas is or will be reached, then directed fishing will be
prohibited for non-CDQ Pacific cod in that subarea, even if a BSAI allowance remains (Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors is deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot
sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in directed fisheries for
groundfish other than Pacific cod.
\3\ The A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod allocation is allocated to the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program after subtraction of the A and B season
ICAs (Sec. 679.131(b)(1)). The Regional Administrator approves for the A and B seasons ICAs of 1,500 mt and 700 mt, respectively, to account for
projected incidental catch of Pacific cod by trawl CVs engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program Pacific cod.

Table 10--Final 2026 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2026 Seasonal allowances
Sector Percent 2026 Share of 2026 Share of -----------------------------------------------------------
gear sector total sector total Season Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea TAC...................... n/a 123,077 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Bering Sea CDQ............................ n/a 13,169 n/a See Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)................. n/a
Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC.................... n/a 109,908 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Total Aleutian Islands TAC................ n/a 8,432 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Aleutian Islands CDQ...................... n/a 902 n/a See Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)................. n/a
Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC.............. n/a 7,530 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Western Aleutians Islands Limit........... n/a 3,078 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\................ 100.0 117,438 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.............. 60.8 71,402 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\................. n/a n/a 500 n/a........................................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total............... n/a 70,902 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
Hook-and-line CPs......................... 48.7 n/a 56,792 n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 1-Jun 10.................................. 28,964
B-season.................................. Jun 10-Dec 31................................. 27,828
Hook-and-line CVs >= 60 ft LOA............ 0.2 n/a 233 n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 1-Jun 10.................................. 119
B-season.................................. Jun 10-Dec 31................................. 114
Pot CPs................................... 1.5 n/a 1,749 n/a........................................... n/a
Pot CPs A-season.......................... Jan 1-Jun 10.................................. 892
Pot CPs B-season.......................... Sept 1-Dec 31................................. 857
Pot CVs >= 60 ft LOA...................... 8.4 n/a 9,796 n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 1-Jun 10.................................. 4,996

[[Page 12652]]

B-season.................................. Sept 1-Dec 31................................. 4,800
CVs < 60 ft LOA using hook-and-line or pot 2.0 n/a 2,332 n/a........................................... n/a
gear.
Trawl CVs \3\............................. 22.1 25,954 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
A-Season ICA.............................. Jan 20-Apr 1.................................. 1,500
A-season PCTC............................. Jan 20-Apr 1.................................. 17,706
B-season ICA.............................. Apr 1-Jun 10.................................. 700
B-season PCTC............................. Apr 1-Jun 10.................................. 2,155
C-season trawl CVs........................ Jun 10-Nov 1.................................. 3,893
AFA trawl CPs............................. 2.3 2,701 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 20-Apr 1.................................. 2,026
B-season.................................. Apr 1-Jun 10.................................. 675
C-season.................................. Jun 10-Nov 1.................................. ..........
Amendment 80.............................. 13.4 15,737 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 20-Apr 1.................................. 11,802
B-season.................................. Apr 1-Jun 10.................................. 3,934
C-season.................................. Jun 10-Dec 31................................. ..........
Jig....................................... 1.4 1,644 n/a n/a........................................... n/a
A-season.................................. Jan 1-Apr 30.................................. 986
B-season.................................. Apr 30-Aug 31................................. 329
C-season.................................. Aug 31-Dec 31................................. 329
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2026 harvest specifications for Pacific cod are effective from 0001
hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.
\1\ The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after subtraction of
the reserves for the CDQ Program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the BS or AI subareas is or will be reached, then directed fishing will be
prohibited for non-CDQ Pacific cod in that subarea, even if a BSAI allowance remains (Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors is deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot
sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in directed fisheries for
groundfish other than Pacific cod.
\3\ The A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod allocation is allocated to the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program after subtraction of the A and B season
ICAs (Sec. 679.131(b)(1)). The Regional Administrator approves for the A and B seasons ICAs of 1,500 mt and 700 mt, respectively, to account for
projected incidental catch of Pacific cod by trawl CVs engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program Pacific cod.

Table 11--Final 2025 PCTC Cooperative Allocations and PSC Limits
[Pacific cod and Pacific halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab are in number of animals.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total A Season B Season
Cooperative name \1\ Pacific Pacific Pacific Halibut Red King C. opilio Zone 1 C. Zone 2 C.
Cod CQ Cod CQ Cod CQ Crab COBLZ bairdi bairdi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akutan Cod Association............................... 13,230.29 11,771.72 1,458.57 134.317 1,009 50,732 20,493 17,078
GA Catcher Vessels Association....................... 1,716.84 1,527.57 189.272 17.429 130 6,583 2,659 2,216
USS Cod Cooperative.................................. 2,221.55 1,976.64 244.914 22.553 169 8,518 3,441 2,867
Unified Cod Cooperative.............................. 4,501.32 4,005.07 496.245 45.698 343 17,260 6,972 5,810
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals........................................... 21,670 19,281 2,389 220 1,651 83,093 33,565 27,971
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding. Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas and zones.
\1\ The 2025 PCTC cooperative allocations and PSC limits are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
2025. The 2026 allocations and PSC limits for PCTC Cooperatives will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program
by November 1, 2025. NMFS will specify the 2026 PCTC cooperative allocations and PSC limits in the 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications.

Sablefish Gear Allocation

Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require allocation of the
sablefish TAC for the BS and AI subareas between the trawl gear and
fixed gear sectors. Gear allocations of the sablefish TAC for the BS
are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for fixed gear. Gear
allocations of the sablefish TAC for the AI are 25 percent for trawl
gear and 75 percent for fixed gear. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B)
requires that NMFS apportion 20 percent of the fixed gear allocation of
sablefish TAC to the CDQ reserve for each subarea. Also, Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) requires that in the BS and AI 7.5 percent of
the trawl gear allocation of sablefish TAC from the non-specified
reserve, established under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the
CDQ reserve.
The Council recommended and NMFS agrees that only trawl sablefish
TAC be established biennially and that fixed gear sablefish TAC be
established for one year. The harvest specifications for the fixed gear
sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries are limited to the
2025 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are conducted concurrently
with the halibut IFQ fishery, which opens March 20, 2025. Concurrent
sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries reduce the potential for discards
of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ
fisheries remain closed at the beginning of each fishing year until the
final harvest specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries are in
effect. Table 12 lists the 2025 and 2026 gear allocations of the
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts. Allocations among CDQ groups are
listed in table 21.

[[Page 12653]]

Table 12--Final 2025 and 2026 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 Share of 2025 CDQ 2026 Share of 2026 CDQ
Subarea and gear Percent of TAC TAC 2025 ITAC reserve TAC 2026 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
Trawl gear \1\...................... 50 4,248 3,611 319 4,498 3,823 337
Fixed gear \2\...................... 50 4,248 3,398 850 n/a n/a n/a
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... 100 8,496 7,009 1,168 4,498 3,823 337
Aleutian Islands:
Trawl gear \1\...................... 25 1,985 1,687 149 1,860 1,581 140
Fixed gear \2\...................... 75 5,955 4,764 1,191 n/a n/a n/a
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... 100 7,940 6,451 1,340 1,860 1,581 140
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ For the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using trawl gear, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the non-specified reserve (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)).
The ITAC for vessels using trawl gear is the remainder of the TAC after subtracting this reserve. In the BS and AI, 7.5 percent of the trawl gear
allocation of sablefish TAC is assigned from the non-specified reserve to the CDQ reserve (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1)). The 2025 sablefish
allocations to trawl gear are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. The 2026 sablefish
allocations to trawl gear are effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using fixed gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC for the BS and AI is reserved for use by
CDQ participants (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B)). The ITAC for vessels using fixed gear is the remainder of the TAC after subtracting the CDQ reserve for
each subarea. The Council recommended, and NMFS concurs, that specifications for the fixed gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year. The
2025 sablefish allocations to fixed gear are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. The
2026 sablefish allocations to fixed gear will be specified in the 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications.

Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock
Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs

Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require that NMFS allocate AI
Pacific ocean perch and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole ITACs between the Amendment 80 sector and the BSAI trawl limited
access sector, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ reserves and
ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and vessels using non-
trawl gear. The allocations of the ITACs for AI Pacific ocean perch and
BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80
sector and the BSAI trawl limited access sector are established in
accordance with tables 33 and 34 to 50 CFR part 679 and with Sec.
679.91.
One Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2025 fishing year.
Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80
cooperative, no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is
required for 2025. The 2026 allocations for Amendment 80 species
between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by November 1, 2025. Tables 13 and 14 list
the 2025 and 2026 allocations of the AI Pacific ocean perch and BSAI
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs. Allocations among
the CDQ groups are listed in table 21.

Table 13--Final 2025 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAs), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 6,278 5,559 11,500 36,000 75,000 135,000
CDQ..................................................... 672 595 1,231 3,852 8,025 14,445
ICA..................................................... 100 60 10 2,000 3,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 551 490 205 .............. .............. 12,718
Amendment 80............................................ 4,956 4,414 10,054 30,148 63,975 105,837
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2025 CDQ reserves, ICAs, and allocations for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025.

Table 14--Final 2026 Community Development Quota (CDC) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAs), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 6,144 5,441 12,000 36,000 75,000 145,000
CDQ..................................................... 657 582 1,284 3,852 8,025 15,515
ICA..................................................... 100 60 10 2,000 3,000 2,000

[[Page 12654]]

BSAI trawl limited access............................... 539 480 214 .............. .............. 15,936
Amendment 80 \1\........................................ 4,848 4,319 10,492 30,148 63,975 111,549
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2026 CDQ reserves, ICAs, and allocations for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole are effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.
\1\ The 2026 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2025.

Section 679.2 defines the ABC surplus for flathead sole, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole as the difference between the annual ABC and TAC for
each species. Section 679.20(b)(1)(iii) establishes ABC reserves for
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The ABC surpluses and the
ABC reserves are necessary to mitigate the operational variability,
environmental conditions, and economic factors that may constrain the
CDQ groups and the Amendment 80 cooperatives from fully harvesting
their allocations and to improve the likelihood of achieving and
maintaining, on a continuing basis, the OY in the BSAI groundfish
fisheries. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, may set the ABC
reserve at or below the ABC surplus for each species, thus maintaining
the TAC at or below ABC limits. An amount equal to 10.7 percent of the
ABC reserves will be allocated as CDQ ABC reserves for flathead sole,
rock sole, and yellowfin sole. Section 679.31(b)(4) establishes the
annual allocations of CDQ ABC reserves among the CDQ groups. The
Amendment 80 ABC reserves are the ABC reserves minus the CDQ ABC
reserves. Section 679.91(i)(2) establishes the Amendment 80
cooperatives' ABC reserve to be the ratio of each cooperatives' quota
share units and the total Amendment 80 quota share units, multiplied by
the Amendment 80 ABC reserve for each respective species. Table 15
lists the 2025 and 2026 ABC surplus and ABC reserves for BSAI flathead
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The ABC reserves for the CDQ
groups are listed in table 21.

Table 15--Final 2025 and 2026 ABC Surplus, ABC Reserves, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserves in the BSAI for
Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 Flathead 2025 Yellowfin 2026 \1\ 2026 \1\ Rock 2026 \1\
Sector sole 2025 Rock sole sole Flathead sole sole Yellowfin sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC..................................................... 83,807 157,487 262,557 87,700 158,225 267,639
TAC..................................................... 36,000 75,000 135,000 36,000 75,000 145,000
ABC surplus............................................. 47,807 82,487 127,557 51,700 83,225 122,639
ABC reserve............................................. 47,807 82,487 127,557 51,700 83,225 122,639
CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 5,115 8,826 13,649 5,532 8,905 13,122
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 42,692 73,661 113,908 46,168 74,320 109,517
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2025 surpluses and reserves for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through
2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. The 2026 surpluses and reserves for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are effective from 0001
hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026. The 2026 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by
November 1, 2025.

PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring

Section 679.21 (b), (e), (f), and (g), set forth the BSAI PSC
limits. Section 679.21(b)(1) establishes three fixed halibut PSC limits
totaling 1,770 mt, and assigns 315 mt of the halibut PSC limit as the
PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ Program, 745 mt of the
halibut PSC limit for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, and 710 mt
of the halibut PSC limit for the BSAI non-trawl sector. An additional
amount of BSAI halibut PSC limit for the Amendment 80 sector is
determined annually based on the most recent halibut biomass estimates
from the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) setline survey
index and the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) Eastern
Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index. In accordance with Sec.
679.21(b)(1)(i), NMFS uses both halibut biomass estimates such that the
value at the intercept of those survey indices from table 58 to 50 CFR
part 679 is the Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit. The 2024 AFSC
Eastern Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index estimate of halibut
abundance is 125,145 mt and is below the threshold level of 150,000 mt.
The IPHC setline survey index is 6,282 mt and is in the ``low''
abundance state. Pursuant to table 58 to 50 CFR part 679, the 2025
Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit is 1,309 mt. NMFS will publish
the 2026 Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit in the 2026 and 2027
harvest specifications.
Section 679.21(b)(1)(iii)(A) and (B) require apportionment of the
BSAI non-trawl halibut PSC limit into PSC allowances among six fishery
categories (see table 19). Sections 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(A) and (B),
(e)(3)(i)(B), and (e)(3)(iv) require apportionment of the trawl PSC
limits into PSC allowances among seven fishery categories (see tables
16, 17, and 18). These apportionments into PSC

[[Page 12655]]

allowances are based on the fishery categories' share of anticipated
halibut PSC during the fishing year and the need to optimize the amount
of total groundfish harvested under the halibut PSC limit for the non-
trawl and trawl sectors.
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP, the Council recommends that
certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt from the halibut PSC
limit. NMFS concurs with this recommendation and exempts the pot gear
fishery, the jig gear fishery, and the sablefish IFQ fixed gear fishery
categories from halibut bycatch restrictions for the following reasons:
(1) the pot gear fishery has low halibut bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS
estimates halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet to be negligible
because of the small size of the fishery and the selectivity of the
gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality because the IFQ program requires that legal-size
halibut be retained by vessels using fixed gear if a halibut IFQ permit
holder or a hired master is aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ
for that vessel category and the IFQ regulatory area in which the
vessel is operating (see Sec. 679.7(f)(11)).
The 2024 total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the
BSAI was 32,622 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of 10
mt. There was no participation in the 2024 jig gear fishery and 0 mt of
total groundfish was harvested.
Under Sec. 679.21(f)(2), NMFS annually allocates portions of
either 33,318, 45,000, 47,591, or 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limits
among the AFA sectors, depending on: (1) past bycatch performance; (2)
whether Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan agreements (IPAs) are
formed and approved by NMFS; and (3) whether NMFS determines it is a
low Chinook salmon abundance year. NMFS will determine that it is a low
Chinook salmon abundance year when abundance of Chinook salmon in
western Alaska is less than or equal to 250,000 Chinook salmon. The
State provides to NMFS an estimate of Chinook salmon abundance using
the 3-System Index for western Alaska based on the Kuskokwim,
Unalakleet, and Upper Yukon aggregate stock grouping.
If an AFA sector participates in an approved incentive plan
agreement (IPA) and has not exceeded its performance standard under
Sec. 679.21(f)(6), and if it is not a low Chinook salmon abundance
year, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 60,000 Chinook salmon
PSC limit to that sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If
no IPA is approved, or if the sector has exceeded its performance
standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), and if it is not a low abundance
year, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon
PSC limit to that sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(C). If
an AFA sector participates in an approved IPA and has not exceeded its
performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), and if in a low
abundance year, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 45,000 Chinook
salmon PSC limit to that sector as specified in Sec.
679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). If no IPA is approved, or if the sector has
exceeded its performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), and if in a
low abundance year, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 33,318
Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as specified in Sec.
679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D).
NMFS has determined that 2024 was a low Chinook salmon abundance
year, based on the State's estimate that Chinook salmon abundance in
western Alaska is less than 250,000 Chinook salmon. In addition, all
AFA sectors are participating in NMFS-approved IPAs, and no sector has
exceeded the sector's annual Chinook salmon bycatch performance
standard in any three of seven consecutive years. Therefore, in 2025,
the Chinook salmon PSC limit is 45,000 Chinook salmon, allocated to
each sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 2025, the
Chinook salmon bycatch performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6) is
33,318 Chinook salmon, allocated to each sector as specified in Sec.
679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D). The AFA sector Chinook salmon PSC limits are also
seasonally apportioned with 70 percent for the A season pollock
fishery, and 30 percent for the B season pollock fishery (see
Sec. Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(i) and 679.23(e)(2)). NMFS publishes the
approved IPAs, allocations, and reports at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/bycatch/chinook-salmon-bycatch-management-alaska">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/bycatch/chinook-salmon-bycatch-management-alaska</a>. NMFS will publish the 2026 Chinook salmon PSC limit
and bycatch performance standard in the 2026 and 2027 harvest
specifications.
Section 679.21(g)(2)(i) specifies 700 fish as the Chinook salmon
PSC limit for the AI pollock fishery. Section 679.21(g)(2)(ii)
allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, as the AI PSQ reserve for
the CDQ program, and allocates the remaining 647 Chinook salmon to the
non-CDQ fisheries.
Section 679.21(f)(14)(i) specifies 42,000 fish as the non-Chinook
salmon PSC limit for vessels using trawl gear from August 15 through
October 14 in the Catcher Vessel Operational Area (CVOA). Section
679.21(f)(14)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent, or 4,494 non-Chinook salmon,
in the CVOA as the PSQ reserve for the CDQ program, and allocates the
remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon in the CVOA to the non-CDQ
fisheries. Section 679.21(f)(14)(iv) exempts from closures in the Chum
Salmon Savings Area trawl vessels participating in directed fishing for
pollock and operating under an IPA approved by NMFS.
PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on
abundance and spawning biomass.
Based on the most recent (2024) survey data, the red king crab
mature female abundance is estimated at 11.7 million red king crabs,
and the effective spawning biomass is estimated at 22.47 million lbs
(19,190 mt). Based on the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i),
the calculated PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is
97,000 animals. This limit derives from the mature female abundance
estimate above 8.4 million mature red king crab and an effective
spawning biomass between 14.5 and 55 million lbs.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which
NMFS must specify, after consultation with the Council, an annual red
king crab bycatch limit for the Red King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS)
if the State has established a GHL fishery for red king crab in the
Bristol Bay area in the previous year. The regulations limit the RKCSS
red king crab bycatch limit to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC
limit, based on the need to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to
red king crab bycatch. In December 2024, the Council recommended, and
NMFS approves, that the RKCSS red king crab bycatch limit be equal to
25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit.
Based on the most recent (2024) survey data from the NMFS annual
bottom trawl survey, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) abundance is
estimated at 1,216 million animals. Pursuant to criteria set out at
Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated C. bairdi crab PSC limit for
trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1, and 2,970,000 animals in Zone
2. The limit in Zone 1 is based on the total abundance of C. bairdi
(estimated at 1,216 million animals), which is greater than 400 million
animals. The limit in Zone 2 is based on the total abundance of C.
bairdi (estimated at 1,216 million animals), which is greater than 400
million animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for trawl gear
for snow crab (C. opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by
the NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC

[[Page 12656]]

limit in the C. opilio bycatch limitation zone (COBLZ) is set at 0.1133
percent of the total abundance minus 150,000 crabs, unless a minimum or
maximum PSC limit applies. Based on the most recent (2024) survey
estimate of 13.37 billion animals, multiplied by 0.1133 percent, the
calculated limit is 14,998,210 animals. Because the calculated limit is
greater than 13 million animals, the maximum PSC limit applies and the
PSC limit will be 12.85 million animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1
percent of the annual eastern BS herring biomass. The best current
estimate of herring biomass is 265,096 mt. This amount was developed by
the State based on biomass for spawning aggregations. Therefore, the
herring PSC limit for 2025 and 2026 is 2,651 mt for all trawl gear as
listed in tables 16 and 17.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1) allocates 10.7 percent from each
trawl gear PSC limit specified for crab as a PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires that crab
PSQ reserves be subtracted from the total trawl gear crab PSC limits.
The crab and halibut PSC limits apportioned to the Amendment 80 and
BSAI trawl limited access sectors are listed in table 35 to 50 CFR part
679. The resulting allocations of PSC limit to CDQ PSQ reserves, the
Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access sector are
listed in table 16. Pursuant to Sec. Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(i),
679.21(e)(3)(vi), and 679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC
limits assigned to the Amendment 80 sector are then further allocated
to Amendment 80 cooperatives as cooperative quota. Crab and halibut PSC
cooperative quota assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not
allocated to specific fishery categories.
In 2025, there are no vessels in the Amendment 80 limited access
sector and there is a single Amendment 80 cooperative. The 2026 PSC
allocations between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants
apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2025.
The BSAI ITAC allocation of halibut and crab PSC limits to the PCTC
Program is established in Sec. 679.131(c) and (d). The halibut PSC
apportioned to the trawl CV sector is 98 percent of the halibut PSC
limit apportioned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector's Pacific cod
fishery category, and the remaining 2 percent is apportioned to the AFA
CP sector. The trawl CV sector apportionment is further allocated to
the A and B seasons (95 percent) and the C season (5 percent). The
allocation to the trawl CV sector for the A and B season is subject to
reductions, currently 25 percent, consistent with Sec.
679.131(c)(1)(iii). The crab PSC apportioned to the trawl CV sector is
90.6 percent of the crab PSC limit apportioned to the BSAI trawl
limited access sector's Pacific cod fishery category, and the remaining
9.4 percent is apportioned to the AFA CP sector. The trawl CV sector
apportionment is further allocated to the A and B seasons (95 percent)
and the C season (5 percent), and the A and B season limit is reduced
by 35 percent to determine the overall PCTC Program crab PSC limit. The
limits of halibut and crab PSC for the PCTC Program are listed in table
18, and in table 11 for PSC limits for PCTC Program cooperatives.
Sections 679.21(b)(2) and (e)(5) authorize NMFS, after consulting
with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of halibut and
crab PSC limits for the BSAI trawl limited access and non-trawl sectors
to maximize the ability of the fleets to harvest the available
groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be considered
are: (1) seasonal distribution of prohibited species; (2) seasonal
distribution of target groundfish species relative to prohibited
species distribution; (3) PSC bycatch needs on a seasonal basis
relevant to prohibited species biomass and expected catches of target
groundfish species; (4) the expected variations in bycatch rates
throughout the year; (5) the expected changes in directed groundfish
fishing seasons; 6) the expected start of fishing effort; and (7)
economic effects of establishing seasonal prohibited species
apportionments on segments of the target groundfish industry. Based on
this criteria, the Council recommended and NMFS approves the seasonal
PSC apportionments in tables 18 and 19 to maximize harvest among gear
types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of PSC. PSC
limits for PCTC Program cooperatives are listed in table 11. PSC limits
among the CDQ groups are listed in table 21.

Table 16--Final 2025 and 2026 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Limits to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl
Limited Access Sectors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI PSC limits
CDQ PSQ Trawl PSC Amendment 80 BSAI trawl not allocated
PSC species and area and zone \1\ Total PSC Non-trawl PSC reserve \2\ remaining sector \3\ limited access to Amendment 80
after CDQ PSQ sector \4\ \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI............ 3,079 710 315 n/a 1,309 745 n/a
Herring (mt) BSAI...................... 2,651 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1......... 97,000 n/a 10,379 86,621 43,293 26,489 16,839
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ.............. 12,850,000 n/a 1,374,950 11,475,050 5,639,987 3,688,081 2,146,982
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1........ 980,000 n/a 104,860 875,140 368,521 411,228 95,390
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2........ 2,970,000 n/a 317,790 2,652,210 627,778 1,241,500 782,932
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas and zones. The 2025 prohibited species catch limits are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18,
2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. The 2026 prohibited species catch limits are effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.
\2\ The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of each crab PSC limit.
\3\ The BSAI halibut PSC limit for the Amendment 80 sector is determined annually based on the most recent halibut biomass estimates from the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) setline survey index and the NMFS AFSC Eastern Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index (Sec.
679.21(b)(1)(i)). The Amendment 80 Program reduced apportionment of the trawl PSC limits for crab below the total PSC limit. These reductions are not
apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
\4\ The Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program reduced the Pacific cod PCTC Program PSC limit for halibut by 25 percent (Sec.
679.131(c)(1)(iii)). The PCTC Program reduced the Pacific cod PCTC Program PSC limit for crab by 35 percent (Sec. 679.131(d)(1)(iii)). The PSC
limits apply to PCTC Program trawl CVs in the A and B seasons.

[[Page 12657]]

Table 17--Final 2025 and 2026 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for all Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herring (mt) Red king crab
Fishery categories BSAI (animals) Zone 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole...................... 153 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/Alaska 77 n/a
plaice/other flatfish \1\..........
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/ 8 n/a
Kamchatka flounder/sablefish.......
Rockfish............................ 8 n/a
Pacific cod......................... 14 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock.............. 2,359 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 31 n/a
2 3................................
Red king crab savings subarea non- n/a 24,250
pelagic trawl gear \4\.............
-----------------------------------
Total trawl PSC................. 2,651 97,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
The 2025 prohibited species catch allowances are effective from 1200
hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December
31, 2025. The 2026 prohibited species catch allowances are effective
from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t.,
March 18, 2026.
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth
flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock
sole, and yellowfin sole.
\2\ Pollock other than midwater trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and
``other species'' fishery category.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and
octopuses.
\4\ In December 2024, the Council recommended and NMFS approves that the
red king crab bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the
Red King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS) be limited to 25 percent of the
red king crab PSC limit (see Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).

Table 18-Final 2025 and 2026 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors and
Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access sector Halibut Red king crab C. opilio C. bairdi (animals)
fisheries mortality (mt) (animals) Zone (animals) -------------------------------
BSAI 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.................. 250 23,337 3,521,726 346,228 1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/Alaska .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
plaice/other flatfish \2\......
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
flounder/Kamchatka flounder/
sablefish......................
Rockfish April 15-December 31... 5 .............. 2,971 .............. 1,000
Total Pacific cod \3\........... 315 2,955 148,531 60,000 50,000
AFA CP Pacific cod.............. 6 278 13,962 5,640 4,700
PCTC Program Pacific cod, 220 1,653 83,096 33,567 27,973
January 20-June 10.............
Trawl CV Pacific cod, June 10- 15 134 6,728 2,718 2,265
November 1.....................
PCTC Program unallocated 73 890 44,744 18,075 15,062
reduction......................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 175 197 14,854 5,000 5,000
species \4\....................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total BSAI trawl limited 745 26,489 3,688,081 411,228 1,241,500
access sector PSC..........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2025 prohibited species catch
allowances are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
2025. The 2026 prohibited species catch allowances are effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas and zones.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole.
\3\ The Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program further apportioned the BSAI trawl limited access sector's
Pacific cod fishery category PSC limits for halibut and crab between AFA CPs, PCTC A and B season for trawl
CVs, and the open access C-season for trawl CVs (Sec. 679.131(c) and (d)). The halibut PSC limits are
reduced for the A and B season trawl CV sector by 25 percent each year (Sec. 679.131(c)(1)(iii)). The crab
PSC limits are reduced for the A and B season trawl CV sector by 35 percent each year (Sec.
679.131(d)(1)(iii)). Any amount of the PCTC Program PSC limit remaining after the B season may be
reapportioned to the trawl CV open access fishery in the C season.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses.

Table 19--Final 2025 and 2026 Halibut Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-trawl fisheries Seasons CP CV All non-trawl
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod........................ Total Pacific cod.... 648 13 661
January 1-June 10.... 388 9 n/a
June 10-August 15.... 162 2 n/a
August 15-December 31 98 2 n/a
Non-Pacific cod non-trawl-Total.... May 1-December 31.... n/a n/a 49
Groundfish pot and jig............. n/a.................. n/a n/a Exempt
Sablefish hook-and-line............ n/a.................. n/a n/a Exempt
-----------------------------------------------------

[[Page 12658]]

Total for all non-trawl PSC.... n/a.................. n/a n/a 710
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector allowances may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2025 prohibited species catch
allowances are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
2025. The 2026 prohibited species catch allowances are effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2026,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.

Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition

The IPHC annually assesses the abundance and potential yield of the
Pacific halibut stock using all available data from the commercial and
sport fisheries, other removals, and scientific surveys. Additional
information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may be found in the
IPHC's 2024 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December 2024) available
on the IPHC website at <a href="https://www.iphc.int">https://www.iphc.int</a>. The IPHC considered the
2024 Pacific halibut stock assessment at its January 2025 annual
meeting when it sets the 2025 commercial halibut fishery catch limits.

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMRs)

To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch
rates, DMRs, and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a
fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment
is reached. Halibut incidental catch rates are based on observed
estimates of halibut incidental catch in the groundfish fishery. DMRs
are estimates of the proportion of incidentally caught halibut that do
not survive after being returned to the sea. The cumulative halibut
mortality that accrues to a particular halibut PSC limit is the product
of a DMR multiplied by the estimated halibut PSC. DMRs are estimated
using the best scientific information available in conjunction with the
annual BSAI stock assessment process. The DMR methodology and findings
are included as an appendix to the annual BSAI groundfish SAFE report.
In 2016, the DMR estimation methodology underwent revisions per the
Council's recommendation. An interagency halibut working group (IPHC,
Council, and NMFS staff) developed improved estimation methods that
have undergone review by the Plan Team, SSC, and the Council. A summary
of the revised methodology is included in the BSAI proposed 2017 and
2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87863, December 6, 2016), and a
comprehensive discussion of the working group's statistical methodology
is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). The DMR working group's
revised methodology is intended to improve estimation accuracy,
transparency, and transferability used for calculating DMRs. The
working group will continue to consider improvements to the methodology
used to calculate halibut mortality, including potential changes to the
reference period (the period of data used for calculating the DMRs).
The methodology continues to ensure that NMFS is using DMRs that
accurately reflect halibut mortality, which will inform the sectors of
their estimated halibut mortality and allow sectors to respond with
methods that could reduce mortality and, eventually, the DMR for that
sector.
At the October and December 2024 meetings, the SSC, AP, and the
Council concurred with the continued use of the revised DMR estimation
methodology, and NMFS adopts for 2025 and 2026 the DMRs calculated
under the revised methodology. The final 2025 and 2026 DMRs in this
rule are unchanged from the DMRs in the proposed 2025 and 2026 harvest
specifications (89 FR 96186, December 4, 2024). Table 20 lists these
final 2025 and 2026 DMRs.

Table 20--2025 and 2026 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)
for the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut discard
Gear Sector mortality rate
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic trawl................... All............... 100
Non-pelagic trawl............... Mothership and CP. 86
Non-pelagic trawl............... CV................ 67
Hook-and-line................... CV................ 9
Hook-and-line................... CV................ 9
Pot............................. All............... 21
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The halibut DMRs are effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18,
2025, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.

CDQ Group Quotas

In 2006, Public Law 109-241 amended section 305(i)(1) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1855(i)). This law specifies the
allocation of CDQ groundfish among the six CDQ groups. The six CDQ
groups are the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development
Association (APICDA), Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation
(BBEDC), Central Bering Sea Fisherman's Association (CBSFA), Coastal
Villages Regional Fund (CVRF), Norton Sound Economic Development
Corporation (NSEDC), and Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association
(YDFDA). NMFS published the CDQ and CDQ PSQ percentages on August 31,
2006 (71 FR 51804, August 31, 2006). The groundfish and PSC amounts for
each CDQ group are based on those percentages and applied to the total
2025 CDQ amounts in these harvest specifications. Those amounts for
each CDQ group for 2025 are shown in table 21. The amounts for 2026
will be calculated in conjunction with the final 2026 and 2027 harvest
specifications.

[[Page 12659]]

Table 21--2025 CDQ Program Quota Categories, Target CDQ Reserves, Prohibited Species Quota (PSQ) Reserves, and CDQ Group Quotas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDQ group quotas
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Groundfish CDQ species Species or
Species APICDA BBEDC CBSFA CVRF NSEDC YDFDA
Group
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Groundfish units are in metric tons.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS Pollock A season.......................................... 8,662.5 12,993.8 3,093.8 14,850.0 13,612.5 8,662.5 61,875
BS Pollock B season.......................................... 10,587.5 15,881.3 3,781.3 18,150.0 16,637.5 10,587.5 75,625
BS Pollock Total............................................. 19,250.0 28,875.0 6,875.0 33,000.0 30,250.0 19,250.0 137,500
AI Pollock................................................... 266.0 399.0 95.0 456.0 418.0 266.0 1,900
BS Fixed Gear Sablefish...................................... 127.4 169.9 135.9 0.0 152.9 263.4 850
AI Fixed Gear Sablefish...................................... 166.7 226.3 35.7 321.6 273.9 166.7 1,191
BS Sablefish................................................. 66.9 70.1 28.7 41.4 41.4 70.1 319
AI Sablefish................................................. 38.7 29.8 11.9 19.4 17.9 31.3 149
BS Pacific cod............................................... 2,208.4 2,993.2 1,266.7 2,562.5 2,554.0 2,710.7 14,295
AI Pacific cod............................................... 143.7 194.8 82.4 166.8 166.2 176.4 930
WAI Atka Mackerel............................................ 595.7 297.8 158.8 297.8 278.0 357.4 1,986
CAI Atka Mackerel............................................ 784.6 392.3 209.2 392.3 366.2 470.8 2,615
EAI/BS Atka Mackerel......................................... 1,251.9 626.0 333.8 626.0 584.2 751.1 4,173
Yellowfin Sole............................................... 4,044.6 3,466.8 1,155.6 866.7 1,011.2 3,900.2 14,445
Yellowfin Sole ABC reserves.................................. 3,782.2 3,265.4 1,092.2 867.2 994.6 3,646.9 13,649
Rock Sole.................................................... 1,926.0 1,845.8 642.0 882.8 882.8 1,845.8 8,025
Rock Sole ABC reserves....................................... 2,118.3 2,030.0 706.1 970.9 970.9 2,030.0 8,826
BS Greenland Turbot.......................................... 22.7 28.4 11.4 24.2 27.0 28.4 142
Arrowtooth Flounder.......................................... 329.6 329.6 134.8 194.7 179.8 329.6 1,498
Flathead Sole................................................ 770.4 808.9 346.7 577.8 577.8 770.4 3,852
Flathead Sole ABC reserves................................... 1,023.1 1,074.2 460.4 767.3 767.3 1,023.1 5,115
WAI Pacific Ocean Perch...................................... 369.2 184.6 98.4 184.6 172.3 221.5 1,231
CAI Pacific Ocean Perch...................................... 178.4 89.2 47.6 89.2 83.3 107.1 595
EAI Pacific Ocean Perch...................................... 201.5 100.8 53.7 100.8 94.0 120.9 672
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PSQ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut PSQ is in metric tons. Crab and salmon PSQ are in number of animals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zone 1 Red King Crab......................................... 2,491 2,180 830 1,245 1,245 2,387 10,379
Zone 1 Bairdi Tanner Crab.................................... 27,264 25,166 8,389 8,389 8,389 27,264 104,860
Zone 2 Bairdi Tanner Crab.................................... 76,270 73,092 25,423 34,957 31,779 76,270 317,790
COBLZ Opilio Tanner Crab..................................... 343,738 329,988 109,996 137,495 109,996 343,738 1,374,950
Pacific Halibut.............................................. 69 69 28 38 38 72 315
BS Chinook Salmon A season................................... 547 820 195 937 859 547 3,906
BS Chinook Salmon B season................................... 139 208 50 238 218 139 990
BS Chinook Salmon total...................................... 685 1,028 245 1,175 1,077 685 4,896
AI Chinook Salmon............................................ 7 11 3 13 12 7 53
Non-Chinook Salmon........................................... 629 944 225 1,079 989 629 4,494
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas and zones.

Directed Fishing Closures

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator may establish a DFA for a species or species group if the
Regional Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment
of a target species has been or will be reached. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a DFA, and that allowance is or will be
reached before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed
fishing for that species or species group in the specified subarea,
regulatory area, or district (see Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). Pursuant to
Sec. 679.21(b)(4) and (e)(7), if the Regional Administrator determines
that a fishery category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red king crab,
C. bairdi crab, or C. opilio crab for a specified area has been
reached, the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for
each species or species group in that fishery category in the area
specified by regulation for the remainder of the season or fishing
year.
Based on historical catch patterns and anticipated fishing
activity, the Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish
allocation amounts in table 22 will be necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2025 and 2026
fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species and
species groups in table 22 as zero mt. Therefore, in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species or species groups in the specified areas effective
at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 1200 hours, A.l.t.,
March 18, 2026. Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, bycatch
allowances of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, and C. opilio
crab listed in table 22 are insufficient to support directed fisheries
for the species and species groups listed in table 22. Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.21(b)(4)(i) and (e)(7), NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for these sectors, species, and fishery categories in
the specified areas effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.

[[Page 12660]]

Table 22--2025 and 2026 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 2026
Incidental Incidental
Area Sector Species catch catch
allowance allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District................. All.................. Pollock.............. 250 250
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... All.................. Greenland Turbot..... 224 177
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... All.................. ICA pollock.......... 3,000 3,000
``Other rockfish'' 415 415
\2\.
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... Trawl non-CDQ, Non- Sablefish............ 1,687 1,581
Amendment 80.
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering All.................. ICA Atka mackerel.... 800 800
Sea.
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering All.................. Blackspotted/Rougheye 347 375
Sea. rockfish.
Eastern Aleutian District......... All.................. ICA Pacific ocean 100 100
perch.
Central Aleutian District......... All.................. ICA Atka mackerel.... 100 100
ICA Pacific ocean 60 60
perch.
Western Aleutian District......... All.................. ICA Atka mackerel.... 20 20
ICA Pacific ocean 10 10
perch.
Western and Central Aleutian All.................. Blackspotted/Rougheye 298 325
Districts. rockfish.
Bering Sea subarea................ Trawl non-CDQ, non- Sablefish............ 3,611 3,823
Amendment 80.
Bering Sea subarea................ All.................. Pacific ocean perch.. 8,603 8,419
``Other rockfish'' 415 415
\2\. 46,000 46,000
ICA pollock..........
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands... All.................. Shortraker rockfish.. 402 402
Skates............... 23,499 23,499
Sharks............... 340 340
Octopuses............ 340 340
Hook-and-line and pot ICA Pacific cod...... 500 500
gear.
All.................. ICA flathead sole.... 2,000 2,000
ICA rock sole........ 3,000 3,000
All.................. ICA yellowfin sole... 2,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited Rock sole/flathead .............. ..............
access. sole/Alaska plaice/
other flatfish
fishery category-
halibut mortality,
red king crab Zone
1, C. opilio COBLZ,
C. bairdi Zone 1 and
2.
Greenland turbot/
arrowtooth flounder/
Kamchatka flounder/
sablefish fishery
category--halibut
mortality, red king
crab Zone 1, C.
opilio COBLZ, C.
bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Rockfish fishery ..................... .............. ..............
category--red king
crab Zone 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The directed fishing closures are effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 1200 hours,
A.l.t., March 18, 2026.
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean
perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish.

Closures implemented under the final 2024 and 2025 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024) remain
effective under authority of these final 2025 and 2026 harvest
specifications and until the date specified in those closure
notifications. Closures are posted at the following website under the
Alaska filter for Management Area: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/rules-and-announcements/bulletins">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/rules-and-announcements/bulletins</a>. While these closures are in effect,
the maximum retainable amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any
time during a fishing trip. These closures to directed fishing are in
addition to closures and prohibitions found at 50 CFR part 679. NMFS
may implement other closures during the 2025 and 2026 fishing years as
necessary for effective conservation and management and consistent with
the regulations at 50 CFR part 679.

Listed AFA CP Sideboard Limits

Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA CPs to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA fishery and from fishery cooperatives in the
directed pollock fishery. These restrictions are set out as sideboard
limits on catch. On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84
FR 2723) that implemented regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CPs
from directed fishing for all groundfish species or species groups
subject to sideboard limits (see Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and table 54
to 50 CFR part 679). Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA CPs from a
yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the final 2026 aggregate ITAC of
yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl
limited access sector is projected to be greater than 125,000 mt. For
2025, the final yellowfin sole ITAC is below 125,000 mt. A sideboard
limit will apply in 2025. Section 679.64(a)(1)(iii) sets the procedures
for calculating AFA CP sideboards. The yellowfin sole sideboard limit
for AFA CPs is 23 percent of the yellowfin sole TAC after subtracting
the CDQ reserve in the BSAI. Therefore, in 2025 the AFA CP yellowfin
sole sideboard limit will be 27,728 mt (table 23).
Section 679.64(a)(2) and tables 40 and 41 to 50 CFR part 679
establish a formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for halibut
and crab caught by listed AFA CPs. The basis for these sideboard limits
is described in detail in the final rules implementing the major
provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80
(72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). PSC species listed in table 23 that
are caught by listed AFA CPs participating in any groundfish fishery
other than pollock will accrue against the final 2025 and 2026 PSC
sideboard limits for the listed AFA CPs. Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii),
(e)(3)(v), and (e)(7) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for
groundfish other than pollock for listed AFA CPs once a final 2025 or
2026 PSC sideboard

[[Page 12661]]

limit listed in table 23 is reached. Pursuant to Sec.
679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (e)(3)(ii)(C), halibut or crab PSC by listed
AFA CPs while fishing for pollock will accrue against the PSC
allowances annually specified for the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other
species'' fishery categories, according to Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B)
and (e)(3)(iv).

Table 23--Final 2025 and 2026 BSAI AFA Listed CP Prohibited Species and 2025 Yellowfin Sole Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 and 2026 PSC
Ratio of PSC available to trawl 2025 and 2026 AFA
PSC species and area \1\ catch to total vessels after CP sideboard limit
PSC subtraction of CDQ \2\
PSQ \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI............................ n/a n/a 286
Red king crab Zone 1.............................. 0.0070 86,621 606
C. opilio (COBLZ)................................. 0.1530 11,475,050 1,755,683
C. bairdi Zone 1.................................. 0.1400 875,140 122,520
C. bairdi Zone 2.................................. 0.0500 2,652,210 132,611
Yellowfin sole \3\................................ 0.2300 120,555 27,728
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas. The AFA listed CP prohibited species sideboard limits are
effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\3\ The 2025 AFA listed CP yellowfin sideboard limit is effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA CPs from a yellowfin sole
sideboard limit in 2026 because the final 2026 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80
sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is projected to be greater than 125,000 mt.

AFA CV Sideboard Limits

Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(b), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CVs to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA fishery and from fishery cooperatives in the
pollock directed fishery. Section 679.64(b)(3) and (b)(4) and tables 40
and 41 to 50 CFR part 679 establish formulas for setting AFA CV
groundfish and halibut and crab PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The
basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final
rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692,
December 30, 2002), Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007), and
Amendment 122 (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023). Section 679.64(b)(6)
exempts AFA CVs from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the final
2026 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80
sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is projected to be greater
than 125,000 mt. For 2025, the final yellowfin sole ITAC is below
125,000 mt. A sideboard limit will apply in 2025. Section
679.64(b)(3)(iii) sets the procedures for calculating AFA CV
sideboards. The yellowfin sole sideboard limit for AFA CVs is 6.47
percent of the yellowfin sole TAC after subtracting the CDQ reserve for
the BSAI. Therefore, in 2025 the AFA CV yellowfin sole sideboard limit
will be 7,800 mt (table 24).
On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that
implemented regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CVs from directed
fishing for a majority of the groundfish species or species groups
subject to sideboard limits (see Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and table 55
to 50 CFR part 679). The only remaining sideboard limit for non-exempt
AFA CVs is for Pacific cod. Pursuant to Amendment 122 to the FMP, the
Pacific cod sideboard limit is no longer necessary in the A and B
seasons because directed fishing in the BSAI for Pacific cod by trawl
CVs is now managed under the PCTC Program, and accordingly the
sideboard limit is in effect in the C season only (Sec.
679.64(b)(3)(ii)). Table 24 lists the final 2025 and 2026 AFA CV
groundfish sideboard limits.

Table 24--Final 2025 and 2026 BSAI Pacific Cod and 2025 Yellowfin Sole Sideboard Limits for American Fisheries Act CVs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1997 AFA
Fishery by area/gear/season CV catch to 1997 2025 initial TAC 2025 AFA CV 2026 initial TAC 2026 AFA CV
TAC for C season sideboard limit for C season sideboard limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod BSAI............................... n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Trawl gear CV.................................. n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Jun 10-Nov 1............................... 0.8609 4,212 3,626 3,893 3,351
Yellowfin sole BSAI............................ 0.0647 120,555 7,800 n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The AFA CV Pacific cod sideboard limit is effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026. The 2025
AFA CV yellowfin sole sideboard limit is effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. Section
679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA CVs from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit in 2026 because the final 2026 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the
Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is projected to be greater than 125,000 mt.

Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in table 25 that are caught by
AFA CVs participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will
accrue against the final 2025 and 2026 PSC sideboard limits for the AFA
CVs. Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii), (e)(3)(v), and (e)(7) authorizes NMFS
to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for AFA CVs
once a final 2025 or 2026 PSC sideboard limit listed in table 25 is
reached. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (e)(3)(ii)(C),
halibut or crab PSC by AFA CVs while fishing for pollock will accrue
against

[[Page 12662]]

the PSC allowances annually specified for the pollock/Atka mackerel/
``other species'' fishery categories under Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B)
and (e)(3)(iv).

Table 25--Final 2025 and 2026 American Fisheries Act CV Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits for the BSAI \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 and 2026 PSC limit
PSC species and area \1\ Target fishery category \2\ AFA CV PSC sideboard after subtraction of PSQ 2025 and 2026 AFA CV
limit ratio reserves \3\ PSC sideboard limit \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut................................. Pacific cod trawl............... n/a n/a n/a
Pacific cod hook-and-line or pot n/a n/a 2
Yellowfin sole total............ n/a n/a 101
Rock sole/flathead sole/Alaska n/a n/a 228
plaice/other flatfish \4\.
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth n/a n/a .......................
flounder/Kamchatka flounder/
sablefish.
Rockfish........................ n/a n/a 2
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other n/a n/a 5
species \5\.
Red king crab Zone 1.................... n/a............................. 0.2990 86,621 25,900
C. opilio COBLZ......................... n/a............................. 0.1680 11,475,050 1,927,808
C. bairdi Zone 1........................ n/a............................. 0.3300 875,140 288,796
C. bairdi Zone 2........................ n/a............................. 0.1860 2,652,210 493,311
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas. The AFA CV prohibited species sideboard limits are effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2025,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026.
\2\ Target trawl fishery categories are defined at Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv).
\3\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\4\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\5\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses.

Response to Comments

NMFS received three letters raising 19 distinct comments during the
public comment period for the proposed BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications (89 FR 96186, December 4, 2024). NMFS's responses are
below.
Comment 1: NMFS must reduce TAC to address food security and ways-
of-life for communities reliant on marine resources like salmon.
Response: NMFS acknowledges that there are communities throughout
Alaska that are reliant on marine resources like salmon that provide
food security and are integral for ways-of-life. However, considering
the best scientific information available, NMFS does not agree a
reduction in TACs in the BSAI groundfish fisheries is warranted at this
time. NMFS's response to Comment 2 comprehensively addresses how NMFS
manages to minimize bycatch in the BSAI groundfish fisheries. NMFS's
response to Comment 13 explains how changes in TACs are not expected to
result in reductions in salmon PSC. Therefore, we focus our response to
this comment on explaining the TAC setting process and why TAC
reductions are not warranted at this time.
The annual TAC setting process is a robust, expansive process that
involves significant scientific input and includes consideration of
current environmental and ecosystem factors (e.g., climate variability)
and other marine resources (e.g., salmon and halibut). Scientists from
the AFSC prepare the assessment using sophisticated statistical
analyses of fish populations and draft the written assessment for a
species or species group. The assessments for the BSAI are informed by
the most recent survey and harvest data available, including multiple
annual surveys in the Eastern Bering Sea (EBS) and biennial surveys in
the AI. The stock assessments then undergo rigorous review, during
public meetings, by the scientists and resource managers on the Plan
Team and SSC.
During this annual TAC setting process, the Plan Team, SSC, AP, and
Council review several sources comprising the best scientific
information available--the ESRs, Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Profiles
(ESP), stock assessments, and Plan Team report--and incorporate them
into their OFL, ABC, and TAC recommendations to NMFS. NMFS reviews the
same information for its annual decision to implement the OFLs, ABCs,
and TACs for BSAI groundfish. Updates on salmon abundance estimates,
commercial salmon catch, and the physical environment are included in
the ESR and ESP. For an overview of the ESR and ESP, refer to the
response to Comment 3.
The stock assessment author and Plan Team make a recommendation for
OFL and ABC for each species and species group, and the SSC may concur
with this recommendation or make a different recommendation.
Ultimately, the SSC recommends the OFL and ABC (i.e., the biological
reference points), and, because the TAC cannot exceed the ABC, this
informs the setting of the TAC (the harvest target/limit) for each
species and species group. (See section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP and 50 CFR
600.310(g)(4)). This ensures that the TAC for each species and species
group does not exceed the scientific recommendations for OFL and ABC.
OFL and ABC are calculated using prescribed methods set forth in
the FMP. The FMP specifies a series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC
amounts based on the level of reliable information available to fishery
scientists. Tier 1 represents the highest level of information quality
available, while Tier 6 represents the lowest. The methods for
calculating OFL and ABC (including the ABC control rule) become more
precautionary depending on the tier and stock status: for example, with
less reliable information the larger the buffer (reduction) between OFL
and ABC, and as stock status declines the OFL and ABC are reduced.
The specification of ABC is informed by the ecosystem,
environmental, and socioeconomic factors presented in the ESRs and in
the stock assessment, specifically the stock-specific risk table
prepared for each stock as well as an additional ecosystem
considerations section prepared for full/operational assessments like
pollock. For EBS pollock, for example, the ecosystem considerations
section of the stock assessment analyzes the fishery's effects on the
ecosystem, including assessments of the pollock fishery's bycatch of
non-target species like salmon.
The ESRs provide information on the status of PSC species like
salmon, halibut, and crab. The 2024 ESRs included information on salmon
in the BS ecosystem and AI ecosystem, including a synthesis of the
status of adult and juvenile chum, king, and sockeye salmon; updated
information

[[Page 12663]]

on the abundance of salmon; fish condition and trends; trends in the
run size of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon; the increasing abundance and
role of eastern Kamchatka pink salmon in the Aleutian Islands; and
trends in directed commercial catch of salmon. The 2024 EBS ESR also
included an overview of foraging and energetics for halibut, and the
2024 AI ESR evaluated changes in the biomass of fish apex predators,
including halibut. The 2024 EBS ESR evaluated trends influencing
commercial crab stock biomass (including snow crab).
In short, the annual process for specifying TACs for groundfish in
the BSAI is a thorough, scientifically driven process informed by the
best available information on the status of target and bycatch species
and the marine ecosystems off Alaska, as well as socioeconomic and
harvest data. The 2025 and 2026 TACs were developed through this
process and account for ecosystem, environmental, and socioeconomic
factors, including bycatch of non-target species like salmon. NMFS has
therefore determined that the 2025 and 2026 TACs are consistent with
the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2024
SAFE report and are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
regulations because they are based on the best scientific information
available (16 U.S.C. 1851(a)(2); 50 CFR 600.315) and none of the final
TACs exceed the final ABCs (16 U.S.C.

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