NOAA Fisheries moves 475 tons of unused Bering Sea trawl cod, mostly to small boats

NOAA Fisheries moved 475 metric tons of 2026 Pacific cod away from Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands trawl catcher vessels Monday. The agency's Alaska regional administrator had determined those boats "will not be able to harvest" the fish.

Under the temporary rule, 400 tons go to catcher vessels under 60 feet using hook-and-line or pot gear. The other 75 tons go to American Fisheries Act trawl catcher/processors, vessels that catch fish and process them on board. The change runs from noon Alaska time Monday through midnight Dec. 31.

The small-boat allocation rises to 4,957 tons from 4,557. Trawl catcher vessels drop to 25,231 tons from 25,706. The catcher/processors rise to 2,787 tons from 2,712.

This is the second such shift this month. As Alaska News reported Oct. 9, the agency, formally the National Marine Fisheries Service, moved 350 tons from Bering Sea trawl catcher vessels to the small boats effective Oct. 13.

The small-boat allocation has more than doubled this year. The fleet started with 2,342 tons, and directed fishing for the sector closed Feb. 3. Transfers in April and on Sept. 1, mostly from jig vessels, raised the total to 4,207 tons and reopened directed fishing.

Through Oct. 17, small boats had caught 4,272 of their 4,557 tons, or 94%, leaving 285 tons. With the new 400 tons, about 685 tons remain for them. Trawl catcher vessels had caught 24,464 of 25,706 tons, or 95%, leaving 1,242 tons.

Directed cod fishing by the AFA trawl catcher/processors has been closed since July 20. The sector had caught 2,711 of its 2,712 tons by Oct. 17. The new rule does not say whether the added 75 tons reopens directed fishing or only covers incidental catch, cod caught while fishing for other groundfish.

NMFS skipped the usual public comment period and 30-day wait. It said the catch data only became available Oct. 21 and that delay would keep the sectors able to catch more from harvesting the full allowable catch.