Alaska Dusky Rockfish Season Shut Down Until 2027
Published Date: 7/24/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting July 22, 2026, fishing for dusky rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska is temporarily closed to keep the catch within safe limits. This affects fishermen targeting dusky rockfish, who must stop directed fishing through the end of 2026. The rule helps protect fish populations while allowing some incidental catch during other fishing trips.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Directed Fishing Closed for Dusky Rockfish
Starting at 1200 A.l.t. on July 22, 2026, directed fishing for dusky rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska is closed through 2400 A.l.t. on December 31, 2026. The 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) for the area is 204 metric tons and the Regional Administrator established a directed fishing allowance of 150 metric tons that has been or will be reached, so directed fishing is prohibited to prevent exceeding the TAC.
Incidental Catch Allowed, Retainable Limits Apply
While directed fishing is closed, NMFS set aside 54 metric tons of the 204 mt TAC as incidental catch to support other groundfish fisheries, so vessels on other trips may retain dusky rockfish incidentally up to those set-aside amounts. The rule also states that the maximum retainable amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
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