Rule2026-02284
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 60 Feet (18.3 Meters) Length Overall Using Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Primary source
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Published
February 5, 2026
Effective
February 4, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (ft) (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 24 (Thursday, February 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5243-5244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02284]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036; RTID 0648-XF425]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 60 Feet (18.3 Meters)
Length Overall Using Pot Gear 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; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (ft) (18.3 meters (m))
length overall (LOA) using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent
exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod total
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 4,
2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Olson, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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
[[Page 5244]]
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 allocated to
catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA using pot
gear in the BSAI is 5,016 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).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS has determined that the A season
allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod TAC allocated as a directed fishing
allowance to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m)
LOA using pot gear in the BSAI will be or has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA using pot
gear in the BSAI to prevent exceeding this sector's A season allowance
of Pacific cod TAC.
While this closure is effective, the maximum retainable amounts at
Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
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 on Pacific cod catch in a timely fashion and would delay the
closure of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the A season in
the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as
of February 2, 2026.
There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to establish an
effective date less than 30 days after date of publication. 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: February 2, 2026.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-02284 Filed 2-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 5, 2026.
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