Rule2026-03185
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 18, 2026
Effective
February 17, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent the underharvest of, and to achieve the full use of, the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7402-7403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03185]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0037; RTID 0648-XF501]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of a closure; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels
using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA). This action is necessary to prevent the underharvest of, and to
achieve the full use of, the A season allowance of the 2026 total
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to vessels using pot
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 17,
2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2026. Comments must be
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t.,
March 5, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2024-0124, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and
type NOAA-NMFS-2024-0124 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment''
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Gretchen Harrington, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will
[[Page 7403]]
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you
wish to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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.
NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA on January 20, 2026 (91
FR 2719, January 22, 2026). The A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific
cod TAC apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory
Area of the GOA is 3,688 metric tons (mt) as established by the final
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (90 FR
12468, March 18, 2025) and inseason adjustment (91 FR 5858, February
10, 2026). NMFS has determined that as of February 13, 2026,
approximately 1,239 mt of Pacific cod remain in the A season allowance
of the 2026 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to vessels using pot gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and
(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the A season allowance of the 2026 TAC
of Pacific cod allocated to vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA, NMFS is terminating the previous closure
and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. The Regional
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has
determined that this adjustment is necessary to prevent the
underharvest of the A season allowance of the 2026 TAC of Pacific cod
allocated to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA and that reopening of directed fishing for Pacific cod by
vessels using pot gear in the A season in the Central Regulatory Area
of the GOA is necessary to achieve this A season allowance for vessels
using pot gear in that area. The Regional Administrator considered the
following factors in reaching this decision: (1) the total catch of
Pacific cod during the prior open season by vessels using pot gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA, which shows the A seasonal
allowance for this gear (pot gear) has not been reached, (2) the
harvest capacity and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of
vessels participating in this fishery, and (3) the remaining Pacific
cod TAC available to harvest in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA
by vessels using pot gear in the A season.
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 delay the opening of directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the A season in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. Any delay could prevent the
full use of the A season allowance of the 2026 TAC of Pacific cod
allocated to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent, relevant data on catch, harvest
capacity and intent, and available TAC for harvest only became
available as of February 13, 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.
Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery
for Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the A season in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA to be harvested in an expedient
manner. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to
submit written comments on this action to the above address until March
5, 2026.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 13, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-03185 Filed 2-13-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 18, 2026.
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