Pollock Shuffle: Quotas Move from Aleutians to Bering Sea Harvest
Published Date: 2/19/2026
Rule
Summary
The government is shifting some pollock fishing quotas from the Aleutian Islands to the Bering Sea because the Aleutian Islands won’t use all their share this year. This change helps make sure the total allowed pollock catch for 2026 gets fully fished. Fishermen in both areas will feel the impact, with the new rules running from February 19 to December 31, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Aleutian quota reduced for 2026
The Aleut Corporation's pollock directed fishing allowance (DFA) in the Aleutian Islands subarea is reduced by 6,300 metric tons to 7,800 mt for 2026, and the Aleutian Islands CDQ DFA is reduced by 1,900 mt to 0 mt. These changes take effect on February 19, 2026 and remain through December 31, 2026.
Bering Sea AFA sectors gain 6,300 mt
A total of 6,300 metric tons of pollock reallocated from the Aleut Corporation's DFA is apportioned to Bering Sea American Fisheries Act (AFA) sectors for 2026: 50% to the AFA inshore sector, 40% to AFA catcher/processors, and 10% to AFA motherships. The reallocation is effective February 19, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
Bering Sea CDQ DFA increased by 1,900 mt
The 1,900 metric tons of pollock CDQ DFA reallocated from the Aleutian Islands is added to the 2026 Bering Sea pollock CDQ DFA, effective February 19, 2026 through December 31, 2026. This increases the Bering Sea CDQ pool available to CDQ program groups for 2026.
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