Rule2026-06472
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final 2026 and 2027 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; 2026 Rockfish Program Cooperative Allocations
Primary source
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Published
April 2, 2026
Effective
April 1, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is providing notification for the Rockfish Program cooperative allocations as described in the final rule that published on March 11, 2026, implementing the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications and prohibited species catch limits for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). These allocations are necessary to provide the Rockfish Program cooperative amounts for 2026, thus allowing commercial fishermen to maximize their economic opportunities in this fishery. This notification comports with the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16581-16582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06472]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 260305-0067; RTID 0648-XF647]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; Final 2026 and 2027 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; 2026
Rockfish Program Cooperative Allocations
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is providing notification for the Rockfish Program
cooperative allocations as described in the final rule that published
on March 11, 2026, implementing the final 2026 and 2027 harvest
specifications and prohibited species catch limits for the groundfish
fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). These allocations are necessary to
provide the Rockfish Program cooperative amounts for 2026, thus
allowing commercial fishermen to maximize their economic opportunities
in this fishery. This notification comports with the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP).
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 1, 2026,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 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 FMP prepared and
recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (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 parts 679 and 680.
As described in the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA, allocations among vessels belonging to catcher
vessel (CV) cooperatives or catcher/processor (CP) cooperatives are not
included in the final harvest specifications (91 FR 11902, March 11,
2026). Rockfish Program applications for CV cooperatives and CP
cooperatives are not due to NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year;
therefore, NMFS cannot calculate 2026 and 2027 Rockfish Program
cooperative allocations in conjunction with the final harvest
specifications (Sec. 679.81(f)). NMFS has received the 2026 Rockfish
Program applications and has calculated the 2026 allocations for CV
cooperatives and CP cooperatives, as set forth in Sec. 679.81(b), (c),
(d), and (e). NMFS is listing the 2026 allocations in table 1.
Table 1--2026 Rockfish Program Cooperative Allocations
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Rockfish program
Cooperative species 2026 allocation
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Rockfish Program Entry Level.... Pacific Ocean Perch 5
Northern Rockfish.. 5
Dusky Rockfish..... 50
Gulf of Alaska Best Use Pacific Ocean Perch 9,544.93
Cooperative (CP).
Northern Rockfish.. 1,300.08
Dusky Rockfish..... 1,971.90
Pacific cod........ 0
Rougheye/ 215.46
Blackspotted
rockfish.
Sablefish.......... 337.73
[[Page 16582]]
Shortraker rockfish 75.60
Thornyhead rockfish 156.35
Halibut PSC........ 74.10
North Pacific Rockfish Pacific Ocean Perch 2,117.62
Cooperative (CV).
Northern Rockfish.. 219.98
Dusky Rockfish..... 395.13
Pacific cod........ 107.85
Rougheye/ 0
Blackspotted
rockfish.
Sablefish.......... 85.70
Shortraker rockfish 0
Thornyhead rockfish 6.08
Halibut PSC........ 15.41
OBSI Rockfish Cooperative (CV).. Pacific Ocean Perch 3,075.36
Northern Rockfish.. 449.57
Dusky Rockfish..... 790.72
Pacific cod........ 180.79
Rougheye/ 0
Blackspotted
rockfish.
Sablefish.......... 143.66
Shortraker rockfish 0
Thornyhead rockfish 10.19
Halibut PSC........ 25.83
Silver Bay Seafoods Rockfish Pacific Ocean Perch 4,294.73
Cooperative (CV).
Northern Rockfish.. 515.94
Dusky Rockfish..... 856.05
Pacific cod........ 228.87
Rougheye/ 0
Blackspotted
rockfish.
Sablefish.......... 181.86
Shortraker rockfish 0
Thornyhead rockfish 12.89
Halibut PSC........ 32.70
Star of Kodiak Rockfish Pacific Ocean Perch 5,318.37
Cooperative (CV).
Northern Rockfish.. 758.43
Dusky Rockfish..... 1,213.20
Pacific cod........ 303.50
Rougheye/ 0
Blackspotted
rockfish.
Sablefish.......... 241.16
Shortraker rockfish 0
Thornyhead rockfish 17.10
Halibut PSC........ 43.36
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Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. Through previous actions, the FMP and regulations are
designed to authorize NMFS to take this action. See 50 CFR part 679.
This action 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 unnecessary and contrary to the public interest.
This notification provides information on the 2026 Rockfish Program
cooperative allocations, and does not change operating practices in the
fisheries. This notification is consistent with the harvest
specifications recommended by the Council in December 2025 and
implemented by NMFS in the final rule for the 2026 and 2027 harvest
specifications (91 FR 11902, March 11, 2026). Those harvest
specifications specify the final total allowable catch (TAC) limits
from which NMFS calculates the Rockfish Program cooperative allocations
based on existing regulations, which were implemented through prior
notice and comment rulemaking (Sec. 679.81(b), (c), (d), and (e)). The
public was provided with notice and opportunity to comment during the
public comment period for the proposed harvest specifications (90 FR
58185, December 16, 2025) and has had notice of the final harvest
specifications implementing the final TAC limits (91 FR 11902, March
11, 2026). Because the public already had a meaningful opportunity to
comment on the TAC limits from which these allocations are derived,
further opportunity for public comment is unnecessary and would not be
meaningful.
This notification announces the Rockfish Program cooperative
allocations based on applications received after the publication of the
2026 and 2027 harvest specifications. If this notification is delayed
to allow for notice and comment it could also result in confusion for
participants in the Rockfish Program given that the final rule
implementing the 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications is effective as
of March 17, 2026, and the Rockfish Program fishery opens April 1,
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 31, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-06472 Filed 4-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 2, 2026.
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