Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

Issuing agencies

Abstract

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear and American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod in the BSAI to be harvested.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 67224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21805]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 260305-0066; RTID 0648-XG134]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod 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; reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific 
cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 
60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or 
pot gear and American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors in 
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action 
is necessary to allow the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 
cod in the BSAI to be harvested.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 26, 
2026, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Olson, 907-206-5813.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI 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 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 specified for catcher vessels using trawl 
gear in the BSAI is 25,706 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 
2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR 
11750, March 10, 2026) and reallocation (91 FR 64806, October 13, 
2026).
    The 2026 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels less than 60 
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 4,557 
mt as established by the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR 11750, March 10, 2026) and reallocations 
(91 FR 16583, April 2, 2026, 91 FR 55499, August 28, 2026, and 91 FR 
64806, October 13, 2026).
    The 2026 Pacific cod TAC specified for AFA trawl catcher/processors 
in the BSAI is 2,712 mt as established by the final 2026 and 2027 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR 11750, March 
10, 2026).
    The Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator) has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear 
will not be able to harvest 475 mt of the 2026 Pacific cod TAC 
allocated to those vessels under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9). The 
Regional Administrator has also determined that catcher vessels less 
than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear have the 
capability to harvest an additional 400 mt of Pacific cod TAC and AFA 
trawl catcher/processors have the capability to harvest an additional 
75 mt of Pacific cod TAC.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS 
reallocates 400 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear 
to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet 
(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. In accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS reallocates 75 mt of Pacific cod from 
catcher vessels using trawl gear to the annual amount specified for AFA 
trawl catcher/processors.
    The harvest specifications for 2026 Pacific cod TAC included in 
final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 
(91 FR 11750, March 10, 2026) and reallocations (91 FR 16583, April 2, 
2026, 91 FR 55499, August 28, 2026, and 91 FR 64806, October 13, 2026) 
are revised as follows: 25,231 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear 
and 4,957 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using 
hook-and-line or pot gear and 2,787 mt to AFA trawl catcher/processors.

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 catch of 
Pacific cod by sectors operating in the BSAI and the capability of 
certain sectors to harvest additional TAC only became available as of 
October 21, 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 22, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-21805 Filed 10-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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