Alaska Fishermen: No More Perch Bycatch, Permit Holders Only
Published Date: 10/15/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting October 14, 2026, most fishing boats in the Central Gulf of Alaska can’t keep Pacific Ocean perch as bycatch because the allowed catch limit is reached. Only boats in the Central GOA Rockfish Program with special permits can keep them. This temporary rule helps protect fish populations and runs through the end of 2026, affecting fishermen’s catch and potentially their income.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Most Central GOA vessels barred from keeping perch
Starting 1200 Alaska local time on October 14, 2026, through 2400 Alaska local time on December 31, 2026, most fishing vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska may not retain Pacific Ocean perch as incidental catch because the 2026 incidental catch allowance for non‑Rockfish Program vessels (2,800 metric tons) will soon be or has been reached. This rule prevents those vessels from landing that species for the rest of 2026 and therefore reduces the catch available to most fishermen and may reduce their income for the remainder of the year.
Rockfish Program vessels may continue retention
Vessels that are checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program and are fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit are not subject to the prohibition and may continue to retain Pacific Ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area during October 14, 2026 through December 31, 2026. In short, these permit-holding Rockfish Program vessels can keep landing this species while most other vessels cannot.
Gear and monitoring exceptions permit retention
Even while the retention prohibition is in effect (October 14, 2026 to December 31, 2026), catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear, and catcher vessels using trawl gear that participate in the electronic monitoring program, are allowed to retain Pacific Ocean perch. These specific gear- and monitoring-based exceptions let certain fishermen continue landing this species despite the general closure.
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Key Dates
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