# 2026-02283: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Less Than 60 Feet (18.3 Meters) Length Overall Using Hook-and-Line or Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

2026-02283, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Less Than 60 Feet (18.3 Meters) Length Overall Using Hook-and-Line or Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-02-05, effective 2026-02-03 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02283
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-02283
- Title: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Less Than 60 Feet (18.3 Meters) Length Overall Using Hook-and-Line or Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 5244
- Published: 2026-02-05
- Effective: 2026-02-03
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## Summary

Starting February 3, 2026, small fishing boats under 60 feet using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands can’t fish for Pacific cod because they’ve hit their catch limit for the year. This temporary closure helps keep the fish population healthy and makes sure everyone sticks to their fishing quotas. It lasts until the end of 2026 and affects those small vessel fishers directly.

## Abstract

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2026 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI.

## Effects PRIA read

- Small Vessels Closed to Pacific Cod: cost, medium. If you own or operate a catcher vessel less than 60 feet using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, you cannot directed-fish for Pacific cod from 1200 A.l.t. on February 3, 2026 through 2400 A.l.t. on December 31, 2026. NMFS closed the sector because the 2026 Pacific co…
- Bycatch Retention Limits Still Apply: cost, low. While the directed-fishing closure is in effect, vessels may not target Pacific cod but may retain Pacific cod only up to the maximum retainable amounts specified at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) at any time during a trip. This means you can keep limited amounts of Pacific cod as bycatch but cannot conduc…

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## Sources
- [2026-02283 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/05/2026-02283/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-cod-by-catcher-vessels-less-than-60-feet)
- [2026-02283 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-05/pdf/2026-02283.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-02276, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Ves…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02276)
- [Next: 2026-02284, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Ves…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02284)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02283 (as of 2026-06-11).