# 2026-01083: Alaska Cod Fishing Halted: Nets Down Until Fall

2026-01083, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-01-21, effective 2026-01-20 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01083
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-01083
- Title: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 2496
- Published: 2026-01-21
- Effective: 2026-01-20
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Alaska Cod Fishing Halted: Nets Down Until Fall

## Summary

Starting January 20, 2026, catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Gulf of Alaska can’t fish for Pacific cod because the allowed catch limit for the season is almost reached. This temporary closure helps protect the fish and keeps the fishing fair for everyone. The ban lasts until September 1, 2026, making sure the Pacific cod population stays healthy and other fisheries can keep going smoothly.

## Abstract

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

## Effects PRIA read

- Temporary Closure for Trawl Vessels: cost, high. Starting 1200 hours Alaska local time on January 20, 2026, catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska are prohibited from directed fishing for Pacific cod through 1200 hours A.l.t. on September 1, 2026. This closure was issued because the A season allowanc…
- A Season Allowance Set Aside: benefit, medium. The Regional Administrator set the directed fishing allowance for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central GOA to 0 metric tons and designated the remaining A season allowance of 3,508 metric tons as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. That 3,50…
- Maximum Retainable Amounts Apply: cost, low. While the closure is in effect, the maximum retainable amounts in Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) govern how much Pacific cod can be kept at any time during a trip. That means catcher vessels using trawl gear may only retain incidental amounts as specified by those rules during the trip.

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## Sources
- [2026-01083 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/21/2026-01083/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-cod-by-catcher-vessels-using-trawl-gear)
- [2026-01083 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-21/pdf/2026-01083.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-01070, Fixed and Moving Safety Zone; Vicinity of the M/V ZHEN HUA 24; Houston Ship Cha…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01070)
- [Next: 2026-01092, Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01092)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01083 (as of 2026-06-11).