Retention of Aleutian rougheye and blackspotted rockfish closed for rest of 2026

Vessels working the Central and Western Aleutian districts can no longer keep blackspotted and rougheye rockfish. They must return the fish to the water for the rest of 2026. The National Marine Fisheries Service prohibition took effect at noon Alaska time on Wednesday, Sept. 9, treating the two species as prohibited species under federal groundfish rules until the year ends. Catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear are exempted; vessels outside that exemption, including trawl vessels, are covered by the ban.

NOAA Fisheries has issued similar retention prohibitions for the same species and districts before, in bulletins dated September 2025 and August 2024.

The action also comes days after a related Aleutian shutdown Alaska News previously covered: NMFS closed directed Pacific ocean perch fishing in the Western Aleutian district for trawl limited access vessels at noon Sept. 4, after that sector's 214-metric-ton allowance filled, with no public comment taken.

For vessels working the Central and Western Aleutian districts, the retention ban means blackspotted and rougheye rockfish caught by trawl gear must now be discarded rather than landed for the rest of the year. The exemption for hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear catcher vessels remains the only carve-out from that requirement.