Tribes Get Proposed Share of 2025 Whiting Fish Haul
Published Date: 4/15/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government is proposing how much Pacific whiting fish will be set aside for Tribal fishing and research in 2025. This plan helps protect fish populations, respects Tribal fishing rights, and supports smart fishing based on science. Fishers, Tribes, and researchers should weigh in by April 30, 2025, to help shape the final rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
2025 Tribal Share Set at 17.5%
The rule would set the 2025 Tribal allocation of Pacific whiting at 17.5 percent of the U.S. total allowable catch (TAC). This 17.5 percent share is applied to the U.S. TAC (73.88 percent of the coastwide TAC) and reduces the amount available to non-Tribal commercial sectors for 2025.
Projected Tribal Allocation in Metric Tons
Applying the 17.5 percent Tribal allocation to a projected 2025 U.S. TAC range produces a Tribal allocation range of 48,354 metric tons (mt) to 92,927 mt. At the 2024 average ex-vessel price of $230.91 per mt, that allocation range would have an estimated ex-vessel value between $17.4 million and $21.4 million.
Reapportionment of Unharvested Tribal Catch
If Tribes do not harvest their full Tribal allocation, NMFS can reapportion unharvested amounts to non-Tribal fleets. For example, in 2024 NMFS reapportioned 45,000 mt of the original 71,755.95 mt Tribal allocation, yielding revised 2024 allocations (Tribal 26,755.95 mt; C/P Co-op 130,059.53 mt; MS Co-op 91,806.73 mt; Shorebased IFQ 160,661.78 mt).
750 mt Research and Incidental Set-Aside
The rule proposes a 750 metric ton set-aside for 2025 to accommodate scientific research catch and incidental mortality in non-groundfish fisheries, unchanged from 2024. That 750 mt is deducted from the U.S. TAC before calculating non-Tribal commercial harvest guidelines.
NMFS Says No Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities
NMFS preliminarily determined this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on small entities. NMFS estimates 100 non-Tribal entities would be directly affected in 2025, of which 86 are considered small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act criteria.
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Key Dates
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