# 2025-15311: Feds Boost Small Boats in Epic Pacific Cod Quota Reallocation Battle

2025-15311, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2025-08-12 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15311
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-15311
- Title: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 90 FR 38711
- Published: 2025-08-12
- Effective: unknown
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Feds Boost Small Boats in Epic Pacific Cod Quota Reallocation Battle

## Summary

The government is shifting some Pacific cod fishing rights from big boats using certain gear to smaller boats using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This change helps make sure all the allowed fish for 2025 get caught without waste. Fishermen with smaller boats will get more chances to catch Pacific cod, keeping the fishing season fair and full.

## Abstract

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear, trawl catcher vessels, and catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.

## Effects PRIA read

- More quota for small catcher vessels: benefit, medium. The rule moves some Pacific cod quota in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) for 2025 to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) overall length using hook-and-line or pot gear. If you operate a small catcher vessel under 60 feet, this gives you more opportunity to catch Pacific cod in 202…
- Reduced projected quota for larger and certain gear vessels: cost, medium. NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod away from vessels using jig gear, trawl catcher vessels, and catcher vessels 60 feet (18.3 m) or greater LOA using hook-and-line gear to smaller catcher vessels in the BSAI for 2025. If you operate one of those larger vessels or use ji…

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## Sources
- [2025-15311 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/12/2025-15311/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-reallocation-of-pacific-cod-in-the-bering-sea)
- [2025-15311 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-08-12/pdf/2025-15311.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-15303, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15303)
- [Next: 2025-15325, Rescission of Expired 1-Year Grace Period for Data Extensions](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15325)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15311 (as of 2026-06-08).