Rule2025-24020
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Primary source
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Published
December 30, 2025
Effective
December 29, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) from vessels using jig gear, to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season allowance of the 2026 TAC of Pacific cod to be harvested.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 30, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 30, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 61069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-24020]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036; RTID 0648-XF421]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod total allowable catch (TAC) from vessels using jig gear, to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using
hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season
allowance of the 2026 TAC of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective December 29, 2025, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Olson, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared and
recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Regulations governing fishing by U.S.
vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part
600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod TAC specified for
vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 990 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18, 2025) and inseason
adjustment (90 FR 60025, December 23, 2025).
The 2026 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 2,342
mt as established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18, 2025) and inseason
adjustment (90 FR 60025, December 23, 2025).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (the Administrator) has
determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 930 mt of the A
season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels
under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). The Administrator has also
determined that catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using
hook-and-line or pot gear have the capability to harvest additional
Pacific cod TAC.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS
reallocates 930 mt of Pacific cod from the A season jig gear allowance
to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet
(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2026 Pacific cod included in final
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR
12640, March 18, 2025) and inseason adjustment (90 FR 60025, December
23, 2025) are revised as follows: 60 mt to the A season allowance and
721 mt to the annual amount for vessels using jig gear, and 3,272 mt to
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or
pot gear.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was
issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and is
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice
and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest,
as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion and would not allow for the full harvest of
the Pacific cod TACs by the sectors with harvesting capability. NMFS
was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data on the harvest of Pacific cod by
sectors operating in the BSAI and the capability of certain sectors to
harvest additional TAC only became available as of December 22, 2025.
There is also good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this
action effective immediately upon filing with the Office of the Federal
Register. This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for
waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 23, 2025.
Peter Cooper,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-24020 Filed 12-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 30, 2025.
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