Alaska Closes Pacific Cod Pot Fishing to Save the Stock
Published Date: 10/7/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting October 6, 2025, fishing for Pacific cod with pot gear in the Central Gulf of Alaska is temporarily closed to keep the catch within safe limits. This affects fishermen using pot gear who must stop fishing there until the end of the year to protect the fish population. The goal is to prevent overfishing and keep the Pacific cod population healthy for the future.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary closure for pot-gear cod fishing
If you fish for Pacific cod with pot gear in the Central Gulf of Alaska, directed fishing is closed from 1200 Alaska local time on October 6, 2025, through 2400 A.l.t. on December 31, 2025. You must stop directed fishing in that area for that period to prevent exceeding the sector's 2025 quota of 4,148 metric tons.
Quota split and incidental catch cap
The 2025 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to pot-gear vessels in the Central GOA is 4,148 metric tons. NMFS set a directed fishing allowance of 4,138 mt and set aside 10 mt as incidental catch to support other groundfish fisheries; while the closure is in effect, only the maximum retainable amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) may be retained at any time during a trip.
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