Pollock quotas shuffled from Aleutians to Bering Sea.
Published Date: 3/10/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting March 10, 2025, the government is shifting some pollock fishing quotas from the Aleutian Islands to the Bering Sea because the Aleutian Islands won’t use all their share. This change helps fishermen in the Bering Sea catch more pollock this year without going over limits. It affects local fishing groups and communities, making sure the 2025 pollock catch is fully used and supports the fishing economy.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Bering Sea fishers receive extra pollock quota
NMFS moved 12,100 metric tons (mt) of the Aleut Corporation's directed fishing allowance (DFA) and 1,900 mt of CDQ DFA from the Aleutian Islands to the Bering Sea for 2025. The 12,100 mt is apportioned among American Fisheries Act (AFA) sectors—50% to inshore, 40% to catcher/processors, and 10% to motherships—and the 1,900 mt is added to the Bering Sea CDQ DFA.
Aleutian Islands allocations sharply reduced
The Aleutian Islands' 2025 pollock allocations were reduced when NMFS determined 12,100 mt of the Aleut Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of CDQ DFA would not be harvested. As revised for 2025, the Aleutian Islands subarea now has 0 mt to CDQ DFA and 2,000 mt to the Aleut Corporation's DFA (down from an originally allocated 14,100 mt to the Aleut Corporation and 1,900 mt CDQ DFA).
Reallocation aims to enable full 2025 pollock harvest
NMFS states this reallocation is intended to provide the opportunity to harvest the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock, consistent with the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Fishery Management Plan. The rule keeps the Bering Sea incidental catch allowance at 46,000 mt while adjusting directed fishing allowances to support harvest in 2025.
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