Alaska Gulf Groundfish Harvest Limits Locked for Two Years
Published Date: 3/11/2026
Rule
Summary
The government set new fishing limits for groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska for 2026 and 2027 to keep fish populations healthy and fishing fair. These rules affect fishermen and seafood businesses by controlling how much fish they can catch starting March 17, 2026, through March 17, 2027. The goal is to protect the ocean’s resources while supporting the fishing industry’s future.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
GOA groundfish TACs set for 2026–2027
The rule sets final total allowable catches (TACs) for Gulf of Alaska groundfish: the sum of TACs is 470,482 metric tons (mt) for 2026 and 465,697 mt for 2027. These limits take effect at 1200 A.l.t. on March 17, 2026, through 1200 A.l.t. on March 17, 2027, and control how much fishermen and seafood businesses can legally harvest.
Pacific cod TACs increased
The final Pacific cod TAC for 2026 is 30,053 mt, up from the proposed 22,235 mt (an increase of 7,818 mt, or 35.16%). The final 2027 Pacific cod TAC is 23,359 mt, which is 1,124 mt (4.93%) higher than proposed. NMFS based these increases on the 2025 Pacific cod stock assessment.
20% reserves reapportioned back to TACs
NMFS reapportions (returns) the 20 percent reserves that were set aside for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, and octopuses back to the original TAC limits for 2026 and 2027. NMFS states it expects those reserves are not necessary and that the entire TACs will be caught.
Prince William Sound pollock GHL reduced
The Plan Team set the Prince William Sound (PWS) pollock guideline harvest level (GHL) at 2.5 percent of the W/C/WYK pollock ABC, yielding a projected PWS GHL of 3,326 mt for 2026 and 2027. That is a 26.51 percent decrease from the 2025 PWS GHL of 4,526 mt; after deducting the 3,326 mt GHL, the W/C/WYK pollock TAC is 129,749 mt (from an ABC of 133,075 mt).
2027 sablefish allocation limited to trawl gear
For 2027, sablefish allocations in the GOA are specified for trawl gear only; fixed gear sablefish TAC allocations for 2027 will be specified later in the 2027 and 2028 harvest specifications. The GOA sablefish TAC is listed as 22,550 mt (with Alaska-wide OFL 57,797 mt and ABC 47,008 mt).
Octopus TAC lowered to account for State GHLs
The final octopus TAC for 2026 and 2027 is 932 mt (35,000 lbs rounded), reduced from the proposed 964 mt—a decrease of 32 mt, or 3.31 percent—to account for State guideline harvest levels in State waters.
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