# 2026-02284: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 60 Feet (18.3 Meters) Length Overall Using Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

2026-02284, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 60 Feet (18.3 Meters) Length Overall Using 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 2026-02-04 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02284
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-02284
- Title: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 60 Feet (18.3 Meters) Length Overall Using Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 5243
- Published: 2026-02-05
- Effective: 2026-02-04
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## Summary

Starting February 4, 2026, fishing for Pacific cod using pot gear is temporarily banned for catcher vessels 60 feet or longer in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This stop helps keep the 2026 catch limits from being broken, protecting fish stocks and the fishing industry. The closure lasts until September 1, 2026, so big boats need to plan their fishing carefully to avoid penalties.

## Abstract

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

## Effects PRIA read

- Pot-gear Big-Vessel Pacific Cod Ban: cost, high. If you operate a catcher vessel 60 feet (18.3 m) or longer using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI), directed fishing for Pacific cod is prohibited from 1200 Alaska local time on February 4, 2026 through 1200 Alaska local time on September 1, 2026. The closure was issued because…

## Related documents

- [2026-14204](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14204): Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date, 2026-07-15
- [2026-14195](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14195): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2026-07-14
- [2026-07536](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07536): Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of America, 2026-04-17
- [2026-05599](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-05599): Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period…, 2026-03-23
- [2026-04256](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04256): Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fi…, 2026-03-04
- [2025-06746](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06746): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2025-04-17

## Sources
- [2026-02284 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/05/2026-02284/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pacific-cod-by-catcher-vessels-greater-than-or)
- [2026-02284 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-05/pdf/2026-02284.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-02283, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Ves…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02283)
- [Next: 2026-02288, Registering Emergency Medical Services Agencies Under the Protecting Patient Ac…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02288)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02284 (as of 2026-06-11).