Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

Issuing agencies

Abstract

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to allow the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 202 (Wednesday, October 21, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 21, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21556]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 260305-0067; RTID 0648-XG140]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific 
cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels using pot 
gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 
action is necessary to allow the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
Pacific cod to be harvested in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 21, 
2026, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 
2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Zaleski, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA 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 2026 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels using trawl 
gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,956 metric tons 
(mt), as established by the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications 
for groundfish in the GOA (91 FR 11902, March 11, 2026) and 
reallocation (91 FR 64807, October 13, 2026).
    The 2026 Pacific cod TAC allocated to vessels using pot gear in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,880 mt, as established by the 
final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA 
(91 FR 11902, March 11, 2026) and reallocation (91 FR 64807, October 
13, 2026).
    The Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator) has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear 
will not be able to harvest 200 mt of the 2026 Pacific cod TAC 
allocated to those vessels under Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)(3). The 
Regional Administrator has also determined that catcher vessels using 
pot gear have the capability to harvest an additional 200 mt of Pacific 
cod TAC.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), NMFS 
apportions 200 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear 
to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels using pot gear.
    The harvest specifications for 2026 Pacific cod TAC allocated to 
vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA included in the final 
2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (91 FR 
11902, March 11, 2026) and reallocation (91 FR 64807, October 13, 2026) 
are revised as follows: 1,756 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear 
and 3,080 mt to vessels using 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 on Pacific cod catch 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 Western Regulatory Area of the 
GOA and the capability of certain sectors to harvest additional TAC 
only became available as of October 19, 2026.
    There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day 
delay in the effective date of this action. 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: October 19, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-21556 Filed 10-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


</pre></body>
</html>