There are no under development actions associated with this management plan.
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Plan
About
This Fishery Management Plan (FMP) governs groundfish fisheries of the United States (U.S.) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the North Pacific Ocean, exclusive of the Bering Sea, between the eastern Aleutian Islands at 170Ε W. longitude and Dixon Entrance at 132Ε40' W. longitude. The FMP covers fisheries for all stocks of finfish except salmon, steelhead, Pacific halibut, Pacific herring, and tuna. Implemented on December 1, 1978, it has been amended 106 times. Its focus has changed from the regulation of mainly foreign fisheries to the management of fully domestic groundfish fisheries.
Species Managed
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Alaska Groundfish
More Information
- Federal Register Rules and Notices
- Analyses
- Status of Regulatory and FMP Amendments
- Council Groundfish Plan Teams
- GOA Groundfish FMP Amendment Action Summaries
- Federal Fishing Regulations, Acts, and Treaties
- Federal Fisheries in Alaska
Actions
2025-2026 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
2025-2026 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
- BSAI Apportionment of Reserves (90 FR 27483, 06/27/2025)
- Reallocation of Pollock in the BSAI (90 FR 14211, 03/31/2025)
- Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the BSAI (90 FR 13704, 03/26/2025
- Final Rule: BSAI Harvest Specifications (90FR12640, 03/18/2025)
- Final Rule: GOA Harvest Specifications (90FR12468, 03/18/2025)
Published
03/18/2025
2025-2026 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications for 2025-2026
Published
03/18/2025
2024-2025 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
2024-2025 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Published
11/04/2024
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Essential Fish Habitat Amendments
Amendment 127 to the FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI, amendment 115 to the FMP for Groundfish of the GOA, amendment 56 to the FMP for BSAI King/Tanner Crabs, amendment 17 to the FMP for Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska, amendment 3 to the Arctic FMP
Effective
10/30/2024
Amendment 113 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Adjustments
Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Adjustments
Effective
09/16/2024
Amendment 126 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 114 to the FMP for the Groundfish of
Amendment 126 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 114 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
Published
07/29/2024
Amendment 124 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Amendment 112 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 124 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 112 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Published
02/27/2023
Amendment 121 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Amendment 110 to the Fishery Management Plan
Amendment 121 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Amendment 110 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska would reclassify sculpins under the ecosystem component (EC) category.
Effective
01/05/2022
Amendment 111 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and Regulatory Amendment to the Rockfish Program
Amendment 111 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area (GOA FMP) and a regulatory amendment to reauthorize the Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Program.
Effective
03/31/2021
Amendment 109 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska
Amendment 109 to Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska reduces operational and management inefficiencies in the Central and Western Gulf of Alaska trawl catcher vessel Pacific cod fisheries and affects Pacific cod apportionments.
Effective
01/01/2021
Amendment 119 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Amendment 107 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska
Regulations requiring the operator of a federally permitted catcher vessel using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska retain and land all rockfish caught while fishing for groundfish or Pacific halibut.
Effective
03/23/2020
Amendment 120 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Amendment 108 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska
Amendments 120 and 108 to Alaska groundfish fishery management plans affects catcher/processors activity in the Pacific cod fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska.
Effective
01/20/2020
Amendment 106 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
Amendment 117 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and amendment 106 to the Pln for Groundfish of the Gulf of AK would classify squid in these fishery management plans under the ecosystem component category.
Effective
08/06/2018
Amendment 105 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
Amendment 105 to the Groundfish Fishery Management Plan of the Gulf of Alaska would update the description and identification of essential fish habitat, and updating information on adverse impacts to EFH based on the best scientific information available.
Effective
05/31/2018
Amendment 104 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
BSAI groundfish amendment 114, GOA groundfish amendment 104 and this final rule integrate electronic monitoring into the North Pacific Observer Program.
Effective
09/07/2017
Amendment 101 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
GOA groundfish FMP amendment 101 to authorize the use of longline pot gear in the GOA sablefish IFQ fishery and establish management measures to minimize conflicts between hook-and-line and longline pot gear used in the GOA sablefish IFQ fisheries.
Effective
01/27/2017
Amendment 103 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
GOA groundfish FMP amendment 103 and this final rule allow NOAA Fisheries to reapportion unused Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) within and among specific trawl sectors in the Central and Western Gulf of Alaska.
Effective
10/12/2016
Amendment 102 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues this final rule to implement Amendments 102/112 to revise regulations and modify the criteria for NOAA Fisheries to place certain small catcher/processors in the partial observer coverage category.
Effective
03/29/2016
Amendment 100 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries announces approval of Amendments 108, 100, and 46 to the respective fishery management plans in correcting vessel length exemptions to the License Limitation Program.
Effective
04/27/2015
Amendment 91 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues regulations to implement Amendment 100 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 91 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Effective
04/06/2015
Amendment 97 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries adopts a final rule to implement Amendment 97 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. Amendment 97 limits Chinook salmon prohibited species catch in Western and Central Gulf of Alaska.
Effective
01/01/2015
Amendment 96 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries publishes regulations to implement Amendment 96 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to allow CQEs to acquire additional QS and facilitate CQE community resident participation in the IFQ program.
Effective
12/08/2014
Amendment 95 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues regulations to implement Amendment 95 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to modify halibut prohibited species catch management by establishing halibut PSC limits ad reducing halibut PSC limits.
Effective
03/24/2014
Amendment 89 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues regulations to implement Amendment 89 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and revise regulations governing the configuration of modified nonpelagic trawl gear.
Effective
02/18/2014
Amendment 94 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
This final rule amends certain sablefish provisions of the Individual Fishing Quota Program for the Fixed-Gear Commercial Fisheries for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in Waters in and off Alaska.
Effective
07/05/2013
Amendment 76 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries publishes regulations to implement Amendments 86 and 76 to restructure the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program.
Effective
01/01/2013
Amendment 90 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries announces approval of Amendment 90 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. This amendment updates the existing essential fish habitat provisions based on a 5-year review.
Effective
10/31/2012
Amendment 93 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries publishes regulations for Amendment 93 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The regulations apply exclusively to the directed pollock trawl fisheries in the Central and Western Reporting Areas of GOA.
Effective
08/25/2012
Amendment 88 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues regulations implementing Amendment 88 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. Amendment 88 is the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program.
Effective
06/26/2012
Amendment 83 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries publishes regulations to implement Amendment 83 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. Amendment 83 allocates Western and Central GOA Pacific cod total allowable catch limits.
Effective
01/01/2012
Amendment 86 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries regulations implement Amendment 86 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. This action adds a Pacific cod endorsement on licenses issued under the License Limitation Program in specific management areas.
Effective
04/21/2011
Amendment 87 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 87 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to revise the plan to meet the National Standard 1 guidelines for annual catch limits and accountability measures.
Effective
11/05/2010
Amendment 85 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues regulations implementing Amendment 85 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to improve flexibility and reduce operating costs for catcher/processors in the Central GOA rockfish program.
Effective
12/03/2009
Amendment 78 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues regulations implementing Amendment 90 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 78 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Effective
09/21/2009
Amendment 82 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues regulations to implement Amendment 92 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 82 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Effective
09/14/2009
Amendment 62 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to increase the number of times per year that a stationary floating processor that is qualified under the American Fisheries Act may move within State of Alaska waters in the Bering Sea subarea to process pollock.
Effective
08/17/2009
Amendment 77 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule that implements Amendment 77 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to remove dark rockfish (Sebastes ciliatus) from the plan in order to let the State of Alaska assume management.
Effective
01/30/2009
Amendment 72 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries announces the approval of Amendment 72 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to support initiatives to monitor and reduce bycatch.
Effective
08/25/2008
Amendment 79 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries announces the Commerce Secretary's approval of Amendment 79 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Effective
08/20/2008
Amendment 67 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries adopts a rule that modifies the Individual Fishing Quota Program for the fixed-gear commercial Pacific halibut fishery and sablefish fishery by revising regulations specific to those fisheries.
Effective
09/10/2007
Amendment 68 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 68 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. This action implements statutory provisions for the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program.
Effective
12/20/2006
Amendment 65 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule implementing Amendments 73 and 65 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to revise the plan by identifying and describing essential fish habitat and designating habitat areas of particular concern.
Effective
07/28/2006
Amendment 73 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule implementing Amendments 73 and 65 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to revise the plan by identifying and describing essential fish habitat and designating habitat areas of particular concern.
Effective
07/28/2006
Amendment 69 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule that implements Amendment 69 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. Amendment 69 amends the manner in which the total allowable catch for the other species complex is annually determined.
Effective
04/12/2006
Amendment 75 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries announces the approval of Amendment 75 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Published
06/20/2005
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area Fishery Management Plan Historical Amendments 41-50
Historical amendments to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area from 1996-2004.
Effective
12/08/2004
Amendment 74 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
Amendment 74 was approved by the Secretary of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council in August 2004.
Issued
08/31/2004
Amendment 63 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 63 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. Amendment 63 moves skates from the "other species" list to the "target species" list in the plan.
Effective
06/11/2004
Amendment 66 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 66 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and an amendment to the Pacific halibut commercial fishery regulations for waters in and off of Alaska.
Effective
06/01/2004
Amendment 64 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 64 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to revise certain recordkeeping and reporting requirements for the Individual Fishing Quota Program.
Effective
08/28/2003
Amendment 61 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
Four fishery management plan amendments to incorporate the provisions of the American Fisheries Act (AFA) into the Alaska fishery management plans and their implementing regulations.
Effective
01/29/2003
Amendment 60 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries proposes regulations to implement Amendment 60 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Area. This action would prohibit the use of non-pelagic trawl gear in Cook Inlet.
Effective
12/27/2002
Amendment 54 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues final rule to implement Amendment 54 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Published
04/29/2002
Amendment 58 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
Analysis of Proposed License Limitation Amendment Package (LLP)—GOA groundfish Amendment 58.
Effective
10/24/2001
Amendment 59 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues regulations to implement Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to designate a 2.5 square nautical mile area of habitat as the Sitka Pinnacles Marine Reserve.
Effective
12/11/2000
Amendment 56 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries announces the approval of Amendment 56 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to revise the definition of overfishing levels for groundfish species or species groups in this plan.
Effective
01/27/1999
Amendment 55 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries announces approval of Amendment 55 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska to promote the protection and conservation of habitat.
Effective
01/20/1999
Amendment 51 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues regulations to implement Amendment 51 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska re-establishing the catcher vessel operational area.
Effective
01/20/1999
Amendment 57 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 57 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska extending the Vessel Moratorium Program.
Effective
01/19/1999
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area Fishery Management Plan Historical Amendments 31-40
Historical amendments to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area from 1993-1998.
Effective
04/16/1998
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area Fishery Management Plan Historical Amendments 21-30
Historical amendments to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area from 1990-1996.
Effective
07/24/1996
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area Fishery Management Plan Historical Amendments 11 through 20
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area Fishery Management Plan Historical Amendments 11 through 20, 1983-1994.
Effective
12/31/1985
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area Fishery Management Plan Historical Amendments 1 through 10
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area Fishery Management Plan Historical Amendments 1 through 10, 1978-1982.
Effective
06/02/1982
Implementation of the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area
Final regulations to implement an amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Gulf of Alaska Groundfish establishing an optimum yield (OY), domestic annual harvest (DAH), and total allowable level of foreign fishing (TALFF).
Effective
09/12/1979