Small Boats Get Big Break in Alaska Cod Fishing Quota Shake-Up
Published Date: 2/12/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting May 1, 2026, small fishing boats 55 feet or less using hook-and-line or pot gear can count their Pacific cod catch toward the jig sector’s share during the January-April season in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This change helps small boat fishers get more chances to fish and supports new entrants, making the fishery fairer and more stable. It’s a win for small crews and the local fishing community!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Small boats count catch to jig season
Starting May 1, 2026, catcher vessels (CVs) that are less than or equal to 55 ft (16.8 m) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear can have their Pacific cod catch during the jig A season (January 1 to April 30) accrue to the jig sector allocation. After April 30 at 1200 hours Alaska local time, catch from all CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA again accrues to the less-than-60 ft hook-and-line and pot CV sector for the remainder of the year. The jig sector is allocated 1.4 percent of the BSAI non-CDQ Pacific cod TAC, with 60 percent of that allocation apportioned to the A season.
Incidental catch allowance set aside
Because smaller hook-and-line or pot CVs (≤55 ft / 16.8 m LOA) are included in the jig sector during the A season, a portion of the jig sector allocation will be set aside as an incidental catch allowance to account for Pacific cod retained by these small CVs in other fisheries during January 1 to April 30. This set-aside is applied as a deduction from the aggregate TAC to ensure incidental retained Pacific cod by those vessels is accounted for during the A season.
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