Rule2026-05266
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 50 Feet Length Overall Using Hook-and-Line 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
March 18, 2026
Effective
March 16, 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 50 feet (15.2 meters (m)) length overall using hook-and-line (HAL) gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 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 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12934-12935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05266]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 260305-0067; RTID 0648-XF430]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 50 Feet Length Overall
Using Hook-and-Line 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; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 meters (m))
length overall using hook-and-line (HAL) gear in the Central Regulatory
Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 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 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using HAL gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 16,
2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2026.
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 GOA (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 allocated to
catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length
overall using HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is
1,160 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 the inseason adjustment (91 FR 5858, February 10, 2026).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has
determined that the A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod TAC
allocated to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m)
length overall using HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA
will be or has been reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,060 mt and is setting
aside the remaining 100 mt as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been or will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for catcher vessels greater than or equal
to 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using HAL gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA to prevent exceeding this sector's A season
allowance of Pacific cod TAC.
While this closure is effective the maximum retainable amounts at
[[Page 12935]]
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 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using HAL gear in the
A season 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 Pacific cod catch only became available as of
March 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 and opportunity for public comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 14, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-05266 Filed 3-16-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 18, 2026.
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