The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is revising the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for pollock and Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), effective 0001 hours, Alaska local time, January 1, 2025, according to Jonathan M. Kurland, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
NMFS is increasing the pollock TAC from 163,494 metric tons (mt) to 186,245 mt. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined that the current 2025 pollock TACs for the GOA are incorrectly specified as they are not informed by the most recent specifications recommended by the Council for the start of the 2025 fishing year. The TAC currently specified for 2025 is different than the TAC recommended by the Council in December 2024.
NMFS is increasing the Pacific cod TAC from 20,757 mt to 23,670 mt. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined that the current 2025 Pacific cod TACs for the GOA are incorrectly specified as they are not informed by the most recent specifications recommended by the Council for the start of the 2025 fishing year. The TAC currently specified for 2025 is different than the TAC recommended by the Council in December 2024.
The 2025 TACs are scheduled to be published in the final harvest specifications in late February. These TACs are based on Council TAC recommendations, which are informed by the Science and Statistical Committee’s overfishing limit and allowable biological catch recommendations, the Groundfish Plan Team’s recommendations, and the stock assessment and fishery evaluation report. However, the pollock and Pacific cod fisheries are likely to harvest the entire A season apportionments before the final harvest specifications are effective. NMFS must therefore update the pollock and Pacific cod TACs and seasonal apportionments prior to the final harvest specifications publication. Additionally, the Steller sea lion protection measures at 50 CFR 679.20 require the seasonal apportionment of the annual TAC to reduce the potential for competition for prey species between Steller sea lions and the pollock and Pacific cod fisheries. The seasonal apportionment is necessary to prevent the likelihood of the groundfish fisheries causing jeopardy of extinction or adverse modification of critical habitat for Steller sea lions.
This information bulletin only provides notice of a fishery management action. For the purposes of complying with any requirements of this action, you are advised to see the actual text of the action in the Federal Register.
