The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, March 17, 2025, according to Jonathan M. Kurland, Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS. On March 10, NMFS first alerted fishery participants that NMFS anticipated harvest levels would be reached for Pacific cod on March 12, 2025.
This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the total allowable catch allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI. This action is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii). This closure does not apply to fishing by vessels participating in the Community Development Program.
While this closure is effective the maximum retainable amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
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.
