The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced a temporary reallocation of Pacific cod quotas in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska.
This reallocation shifts 440 metric tons of unused Pacific cod quota from catcher vessels using trawl gear to those using hook-and-line gear, including both catcher vessels and catcher/processors.
Specifically, 240 metric tons are reallocated to catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear and 200 metric tons to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear.
The reallocation is effective from November 4, 2024, through December 31, 2024, and aims to ensure the total allowable catch (TAC) for 2024 is fully utilized.
This decision was made because trawl gear vessels could not harvest their allocated quota, prompting a shift to maximize resource use.
The reallocation is part of the management efforts under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, governed by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Due to this reallocation, local fisheries and the regional economy in the Gulf of Alaska, which rely on Pacific cod, may experience changes in fishing activities and economic impacts.
