Alaska Cod Fishing Halted: Pots Stay Empty Till September
Published Date: 1/22/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting January 20, 2026, boats using pot gear in the Central Gulf of Alaska must stop fishing for Pacific cod until September 1, 2026. This temporary closure helps keep the 2026 catch limits from being exceeded, protecting the fish and the fishing industry. If you’re a fisher with pot gear in this area, plan ahead to avoid missing out during this period.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary closure for pot-gear cod fishing
Starting 1200 Alaska local time on January 20, 2026, boats using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska are prohibited from directed fishing for Pacific cod through 1200 A.l.t. on September 1, 2026. If you operate a pot-gear vessel in this area, you must stop directed Pacific cod fishing for that entire period.
A-season allowance and incidental set-aside
The A season allowance of the 2026 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to pot-gear vessels in the Central GOA is 2,473 metric tons; NMFS established a directed fishing allowance of 2,468 mt and set aside the remaining 5 mt as incidental catch. These specific tonnages determine when the directed fishing prohibition is triggered.
Retainable amounts rule during closure
While the closure is effective, the maximum retainable amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip. That means vessels may only keep species up to those retainable limits even if Pacific cod is caught incidentally.
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