2026 Pacific Whiting Harvest Specifications, Tribal Allocation and Set-Aside
Summary
The final rule establishes the recommendation of the Pacific Hake/Whiting Treaty Joint Management Committee (JMC) on a U.S. total allowable catch (TAC) of 280,744 metric tons (mt). This TAC includes the Tribal Pacific whiting allocation; a set-aside for incidental catch and research; and domestic fishery Harvest Guideline (HG) and allocations for the non-Tribal Pacific whiting fishery:
| Tribal Allocation | Research and Bycatch set-aside | Harvest Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| 49,130.20 mt | 750 mt | 280,744 mt |
NOAA Fisheries contacted the four Pacific whiting treaty Tribes in 2025 to determine their plans for participation in the 2026 Tribal Pacific whiting fishery. The Makah Tribe is the only tribe that has expressed interest in participating in the 2026 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 2026 Pacific whiting fishery. The incidental set-aside is consistent with the PFMC recommendations made in prior years.
The Harvest Guideline is allocated among the non-Tribal sectors as follows:
| Sector | 2026 Pacific whiting allocation (mt) |
|---|---|
| Catcher/Processor (C/P) Co-op Program | 78,493.69 (34%) |
| Mothership (MS) Co-op Program | 55,407.31 (24%) |
| Shorebased IFQ Program | 96,962.80 (42%) |
This final rule is effective immediately. The Tribal and non-Tribal allocations for Pacific whiting, as well as the set-aside, are effective until December 31, 2026.