Big Boats Told to Reel In: No More Cod in Central Alaska
Published Date: 3/20/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting now, big fishing boats 50 feet or longer using hook-and-line gear can’t fish for Pacific cod in the Central Gulf of Alaska. This rule helps keep the 2025 Pacific cod catch from going over the allowed limit, protecting fish and future fishing fun. If you’re a big boat captain, this means no Pacific cod fishing here for a while, so plan accordingly!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Ban on Pacific Cod Fishing for Big Boats
If you operate a catcher vessel 50 feet (15.2 m) or longer using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, you are prohibited from directed fishing for Pacific cod starting now. The rule applies to the A season allowance of the 2025 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to these vessels.
Protects 2025 Pacific Cod Catch Limit
The rule is intended to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2025 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to catcher vessels 50 feet (15.2 m) or longer using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. This helps conserve the Pacific cod catch level for 2025 and protect future fishing opportunities.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-04785, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Less Than 50 Feet Length Overall Using Hook-and-Line Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
Starting now, small fishing boats under 50 feet using hook-and-line gear can’t fish for Pacific cod in the Central Gulf of Alaska. This rule helps keep the 2025 fishing limits from being broken and protects the fish for everyone. If you’re a small boat fisher in this area, you’ll need to pause your Pacific cod catch for the A season.
Next: 2025-04787, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Pot Catcher/Processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Starting now, boats that catch and process Pacific cod using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands can’t fish for this cod during the A season of 2025. This rule helps keep the fish catch within safe limits so the cod population stays healthy. Fishermen using pot gear in this area need to plan ahead to avoid breaking the new catch limits.