The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces that non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) reached a harvest level that warrants prohibiting directed fishing of Pacific cod, beginning 12 noon, Alaska local time, January 20, 2025, according to Jonathan M. Kurland, Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
NMFS advises vessels to stop directed fishing to prevent exceeding the annual 2025 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii) and (iv). Keeping harvest levels at or below established harvest limits helps to ensure annual catch limits are not exceeded and prevent overfishing under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
In fisheries with harvest levels that warrant prohibiting directed fishing, NMFS advises that vessels should adhere to the maximum retainable amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f). NMFS will continue to monitor all fishing activities in Federal and parallel waters and will report to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council on any fishing activities that occur after NMFS announces that harvest levels warrant prohibiting directed fishing.
