Feds Set Fish Quotas for Alaska's Gulf: Boring Bureaucracy Alert
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government is setting new fishing limits for groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska for 2026 and 2027 to keep fish populations healthy and fishing fair. These rules affect fishermen and seafood businesses by controlling how much fish they can catch, with final rules expected in March 2026. If you have thoughts, you need to share them by January 5, 2026, so your voice counts!
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 3 mixed.
2026–2027 GOA Groundfish TACs Set
NMFS proposes total allowable catches (TACs) for Gulf of Alaska groundfish for 2026 and 2027 with the sum of proposed TACs equal to 464,741 metric tons (mt). These TACs set how much fish fishing businesses can legally harvest and will be finalized in a rule expected to publish in March 2026 and be effective for one year from publication.
State GHL Increase Reduces Western Pacific Cod TAC
The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted an increase in the South Alaska Peninsula guideline harvest level (GHL) from 30 percent to 35 percent, which NMFS intends to reflect in the final 2026 and 2027 Pacific cod TACs for the Western Gulf of Alaska. That change reduces the Federal TAC available in the Western GOA because TACs are adjusted to account for State GHL amounts.
Reserves Reapportioned Back Into TACs
NMFS proposes to reapportion the 20 percent reserves set aside for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, and octopuses back into the original TACs for 2026 and 2027, meaning the proposed TACs already include those reserve amounts.
Pacific Cod Seasonal and Processor Splits
NMFS proposes seasonal apportionments for Pacific cod in the Western and Central GOA (Western: 63.84% to A season / 36.16% to B season; Central: 64.16% to A season / 35.84% to B season) and proposes that 90 percent of the Eastern GOA Pacific cod TAC go to the inshore processing component and 10 percent to the offshore component.
Sablefish Gear-Based Allocations Updated
NMFS proposes allocations of sablefish TACs by gear: Western and Central Regulatory Areas—80 percent to fixed gear and 20 percent to trawl; Eastern Regulatory Area—95 percent to fixed gear and 5 percent to trawl; SEO District—100 percent to fixed gear; and in the WYK District a proposed 5 percent trawl allocation (412 mt trawl, 2,240 mt fixed gear proposed for 2026).
Pollock TACs and Seasonal Splits Defined
NMFS proposes pollock OFL/ABC/TACs for W/C/WYK with a W/C/WYK ABC of 133,075 mt and a proposed W/C/WYK TAC of 129,749 mt; seasonally apportioned A season (Jan 20–May 31) and B season (Sep 1–Nov 1) totals for areas (example: area 610 A season 4,109 mt; B season 23,344 mt). The combined GOA pollock TAC (including SEO) totals 139,498 mt.
Pacific Cod Jig Sector Allocation Changes
For 2026 and 2027 NMFS proposes allocating 2.5 percent of the Western GOA Pacific cod TAC to the jig sector (1.5% base + 1% performance) and 4 percent of the Central GOA Pacific cod TAC to the jig sector (1% base + 3% performance). NMFS based these allocations on jig-sector harvest performance through 2025 and may re-evaluate after the 2025 fishing year completes.
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Key Dates
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The government is setting new fishing limits for groundfish in Alaska’s Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands for 2026 and 2027 to keep fish populations healthy and fishing fair. These rules affect fishermen and seafood businesses by updating how much fish they can catch, with changes kicking in soon and public comments open until January 5, 2026. The goal? Smart fishing that protects the ocean and supports the fishing industry for years to come.
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