2024 Harvest Specifications for Pacific Whiting and 2024 Tribal Allocation
Summary
NOAA Fisheries is announcing a final rule for the 2024 Pacific whiting fishery. This final rule will implement the recommendation of the Pacific Hake/Whiting Treaty Joint Management Committee (JMC) on an adjusted U.S. total allowable catch (TAC) of 410,034 mt. This TAC was developed during the February 27-29, 2024, JMC meeting, and includes the tribal Pacific whiting allocation; a set-aside for incidental catch and research; allocations for the non-Tribal Pacific whiting fishery, and harvest guideline split among the shoreside, catcher/processor, and mothership sectors.
| Tribal Allocation | 71,755.95 mt |
| Research and Bycatch set-aside | 750 mt |
| Harvest Guideline: | 337,528.05 mt |
NOAA Fisheries contacted the four Pacific whiting Treaty Tribes between September and December 2023 to determine their plans for participation in the 2024 Tribal Pacific whiting fishery.
The Makah Tribe is the only Treaty Tribe that has expressed interest in participating in the 2024 fishery. The Quileute Indian Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, and Hoh Indian Tribe, while reserving the right to fish Pacific whiting, do not have plans to enter into or participate in the 2024 Pacific whiting fishery. The research set-aside is consistent with the Pacific Fishery Management Council recommendations made during their November 2023 meeting.
The Harvest Guideline is allocated among the non-Tribal sectors as follows:
| Sector | 2024 Pacific whiting allocation (mt) |
| Catcher/Processor (C/P) Coop Program | 114,759.53 (34%) |
| Mothership (MS) Coop Program | 81,006.73 (24%) |
| Shorebased IFQ Program | 141,761.78 (42%) |
Background information can be found on the Pacific Hake/Whiting Treaty page.