Alaska Sablefish Season Syncs with Halibut to Save Fish
Published Date: 3/26/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting March 26, 2026, fishermen with Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQ) and Community Development Quotas (CDQ) can fish for sablefish off Alaska using fixed gear until December 7, 2026. This temporary rule matches the commercial halibut season dates to help reduce bycatch and keep fishing fair and sustainable. If you hold quota shares, get ready to fish within these dates and follow the new timing rules!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Sablefish IFQ/CDQ Season Dates Set
NMFS opened directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear under the IFQ and CDQ programs from 1200 hours, Alaska local time, March 26, 2026, until 1200 hours, Alaska local time, December 7, 2026. If you hold sablefish quota shares or a CDQ allocation, you are authorized to harvest sablefish with fixed gear only during this period and should plan fishing trips within these dates.
Morning Deployment Rule on March 26
Because NMFS opens the sablefish season at 1200 hours A.l.t. on March 26, 2026 (while the halibut fishery opens at 0600 hours A.l.t.), if a vessel deploys gear to fish for halibut before 1200 hours A.l.t. on March 26, any IFQ or CDQ sablefish caught from that deployment may not be retained. Vessel operators who hold both halibut and sablefish quota should plan gear deployment after 1200 hours A.l.t. on March 26 if they intend to retain sablefish.
Retention Limits After December 7 Noon
NMFS will close the sablefish IFQ and CDQ fishery at 1200 hours A.l.t. on December 7, 2026; if gear is deployed to fish for halibut after 1200 hours A.l.t. on December 7, any IFQ or CDQ sablefish caught from that deployment may only be retained up to the Maximum Retainable Amount (MRA) in 50 CFR 679.20(e). Vessel operators intending to retain sablefish after 1200 hours A.l.t. on December 7 should follow the MRA rules.
Gulf of Alaska Longline-Pot Sablefish Prohibition
The rule states that catch of sablefish with longline pot gear in the Gulf of Alaska must be treated as a prohibited species after the sablefish season closes at 1200 hours A.l.t. on December 7, 2026. Operators using longline pot gear in the Gulf of Alaska may not retain sablefish caught after that time and must treat such catch as prohibited.
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