Fishery summary as of May 2, 2024 NMFS Alaska Region Inseason Management Juneau: Mary Furuness 907 586 7447 Kurt Iverson 907 586 7210 Abby Jahn 907 586 7416 Steve Whitney 907 586 7269 (Rockfish Program, Amendment 80, CDQ) Adam Zaleski 907 586 7650 Dutch Harbor: Krista Milani 907 581 2062 2024 CATCH REPORTS The 2024 catch reports are available here and usually updated on Thursday. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports STATUS OF FISHERIES https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/status-of-fisheries Final 2024/2025 harvest specifications at: GOA https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/alaska-groundfish-harvest-specifications BSAI https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/alaska-groundfish-harvest-specifications 2024 catch data is through April 27, 2024 and 2023 catch data is through April 29, 2023 unless otherwise noted. BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (AI) POLLOCK - directed fishing opened by regulations January 20, 2024. The 2024 TAC for Bering Sea pollock of 1,300,000 mt, the same as in 2023. NMFS reallocated the projected unused pollock TAC from the AI to the Bering Sea CDQ (1,900 mt) and the AFA directed fishing allowances (11,860 mt). For the 2024 A season, the catcher/processor, CDQ and mothership sectors stopped fishing the week ending April 6, 2024, and the inshore sector stopped fishing the week ending April 20, 2024. Pollock for all AFA sectors and CDQ 2024 2023 A season mt A season mt 01/20 4,276 01/21 7,651 01/27 46,655 01/28 62,518 02/03 52,048 02/04 53,620 02/10 57,031 02/11 62,192 02/17 53,938 02/18 55,245 02/24 55,886 02/25 60,751 03/02 46,659 03/04 53,638 03/09 57,738 03/11 65,495 03/16 50,243 03/18 49,354 03/23 45,413 03/25 37,442 03/30 37,837 04/01 29,643 04/06 25,908 04/08 9,838 04/13 10,086 04/15 1,193 04/20 855 04/22 748 Total 544,604 549,327 ANNUAL SALMON PSC IN THE BERING SEA POLLOCK FISHERY The 2024 Chinook salmon PSC limit for the pollock fishery is 45,000 Chinook. Annual Chinook Salmon in the pollock fishery 2024 2023 AFA 4,466 9,458 CDQ 694 1,151 Total 5,160 10,609 Annual Non-Chinook Salmon in the pollock fishery 2024 2023 AFA 843 379 CDQ 71 72 Total 914 451 PACIFIC COD The 2024 Pacific cod TAC is 147,753 mt in the Bering Sea and 8,080 mt in the Aleutian Islands compared to the 2023 Bering Sea TAC of 127,409 mt and Aleutian Islands TAC of 8,425 mt. Aleutian Islands Pacific cod (non-CDQ) See 2024 non-CDQ Pacific cod total catch at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports-alaska Western AI Limit of Pacific cod The 2024 Pacific cod Western AI Limit is 2,233 mt. So far 6% or 131 mt has been reported. Hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear Pacific cod Hook-and-line catcher/processors (CPs) The hook-and-line CPs operate under a voluntary cooperative. The 2024 annual allocation is 67,370 mt compared to 58,753 mt in 2023. In 2023, this sector remained open all year. 2024 A Season Week mt # of CPs 1/06 540 8 1/13 1,470 15 1/20 2,418 17 1/27 1,694 15 2/03 2,231 17 2/10 2,335 17 2/17 2,105 17 2/24 1,578 15 3/02 1,628 14 3/07 1,936 16 3/16 1,475 16 3/23 1,814 15 3/30 1,676 14 4/06 1,493 14 4/13 1,202 15 4/20 1,118 13 4/27 1,326 13 A season Total 28,039 18 A season TAC 34,359 Remaining 6,320 Hook-and-line CVs >= 60 feet length overall (LOA) In 2023, there was a no directed fishing. Pot CVs >= 60 ft The 2024 A season allocation is 5,926 mt compared to 5,168 mt in 2023. The 2024 A season fishing is slow with 4 CVs reporting 2,938 mt compared to 2023 when 22 CVs reported 5,085 mt in 2 weeks and closure of the fishery January 12, 2023. Pot CPs The 2024 A season allocation is 1,058 mt compared to 923 mt for the 2023 A season. There has been no 2024 A season fishing. In 2023, the A season directed fishing closed March 22, 2023. Less than 60 ft hook-and-line or pot CVs NMFS closed directed fishing January 25, 2024. Seventeen vessels reported 4,118 mt. The 2024 annual allocation is 2,767 mt compared to 2,413 mt in 2023. NMFS reallocated 1,100 mt from the 2024 jig sector's A season allocation for a total of 3,867 mt. In 2023, NMFS reallocated an additional 950 mt from the jig sector A season allocation for a total of 3,360 mt, and 20 CVs participated. The first closure was January 16, 2023. Jig Gear The 2024 jig A season allocation is 1,169 mt compared to 1,019 mt in 2023. NMFS reallocated 1,100 mt from the jig sector to the < 60 ft hook-and-line/pot CV sector leaving 848 mt for the annual TAC. The jig sector A/B season TAC of 459 mt is available. In 2023, the jig sector remained open all year with no catch reported. Trawl gear Pacific cod Directed fishing opened by regulation January 20, 2024. The 2024 A season allocations are 22,758 mt in 2024 compared to 19,837 mt in 2023 for trawl CVs, 2,400 mt for 2024 compared to 2,092 mt in 2023 for AFA CPs, and 13,985 mt in 2024 compared to 12,191 mt in 2023 for the Amendment 80 cooperative. In 2024, there is one Amendment 80 cooperative and no 2024 Amendment 80 limited access sector. NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by AFA CPs in 2024 because the annual allocation is needed to support incidental catch in other target fisheries. In 2024, the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program is effective. The PCTC Program's 2024 A/B season directed fishing allowance is 23,941 mt and incidental catch allowance for other fisheries is 2,200 mt. NMFS published in the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications that the AI set-aside will not be in effect for 2024. An incidental catch report for trawl CV Pacific cod is available here - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/akro/car135_bsai_non_cdq_ica2024.html In 2024, CVs started fishing under the PCTC Program February 1. Thirty-three trawl CVs have reported 20,484 mt for the PCTC Program through April 27, 2024. Most fishing has complete for the 2024 PCTC Program and 86% of the PCTC Program allocation has been reported. All trawl CV Pacific cod catch 2024 2023 mt # of CVs mt # of CVs A/B season Total 21,761 75 21,517 86 BSAI FLATFISH, ATKA MACKEREL, PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH (POP) (includes CDQ), AND TRAWL SABLEFISH (no CDQ) Species 2024 2023 Alaska plaice 4,643 6,000 Arrowtooth 477 679 Other flatfish 1,193 1,036 Flathead sole 8,382 4,845 Greenland turbot 2 5 Kamchatka flounder 36 54 Rock sole 20,391 16,978 Yellowfin sole 26,540 44,773 Total Flatfish 61,664 74,370 Atka mackerel 22,055 21,742 POP 792 1,824 Trawl Sablefish 26 73 Non-CDQ BLACKSPOTTED AND ROUGHEYE ROCKFISH (Rougheye rockfish) A weekly report is available to monitor total catch of blackspotted/rougheye rockfish in the Western Aleutian Islands (WAI) at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports-alaska For 2024, the maximum species specific catch recommended in the Western Aleutian Islands is 61 mt. All sectors are requested to avoid blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. HALIBUT PSC Trawl The 2024 trawl halibut mortality is 757 mt compared to 687 mt for the same time period in 2023. In 2024, the BSAI trawl limited access sector (TLAS) includes BSAI TLAS, and PCTC Programs. In 2023, BSAI TLAS includes BSAI TLAS. Also, CDQ includes halibut PSC from hook-and-line gear. Most of the decrease in 2024 is from the trawl CV Pacific cod target with the implementation of the PCTC Program. All trawl gear by Management Program 2023 Total – 757 mt A80 595 mt, CDQ 55 mt, BSAI TLAS 23 mt, PCTC 84 mt 2023 Total – 1,017 mt A80 743 mt, CDQ 62 mt, BSAI TLAS 213 mt Non-Trawl Hook-and-line gear halibut PSC is 49 mt compared to 2023 at 41 mt. GULF OF ALASKA POLLOCK The 2024 annual pollock TACs are 610 - 38,882 mt, 620 - 90,937 mt, and 630 - 50,587 mt compared to the 2023 annual pollock TACs are 610 - 26,958 mt, 620 - 77,005 mt, and 630 - 33,729 mt. The trawl A season opened January 20, 2024. Below are the A season allocations. In area 610, NMFS closed directed fishing April 2, 2024. There is 5,422 mt is available for the A season compared to 1,685 mt in 2023. Eleven CVs reported 5,219 mt in the pollock targets. In 2023, the A season did not open for directed fishing. In area 620, 70,918 mt is available for the A season compared to 58,039 mt in 2023. Directed fishing has stopped for the A season. Thirty-seven CVs have reported 65,607 mt in the pollock targets. In 2023, the A season closed March 20, 2023. In Area 630, 13,862 is available for the A season compared to 9,121 mt in 2023. Directed fishing has stopped for the A season. Twenty-one CVs have reported 4,807 mt in the pollock targets. In 2023, the A season closed May 31, by regulation. In Area 640, 5,565 is available for the A season compared to 6,843 mt in 2023. Directed fishing has stopped. Nine trawl CVs have reported 1,345 mt of pollock in the pollock targets. PACIFIC COD Under the final harvest specifications the jig allocation for the Western GOA increased by 1% to 3.5% of the Western GOA TAC in 2024. The Central GOA the jig allocation increased by 1% to 2% of the Central GOA TAC in 2024. Central GOA •Hook-and-line CP-The 2024 A season allocation is 622 mt compared to 452 mt in 2023. About 80% of the A season has been reported. In 2023, directed fishing closed for the A season June 10, 2023 by regulation. •Hook-and-line CV <50 ft-NMFS closed directed fishing March 26, 2024. The 2024 A season allocation is 1,410 mt compared to 1,026 mt in 2023. NMFS is setting aside 150 mt for incidental catch in the IFQ fisheries. Current catch is 1,143 mt. In 2023, directed fishing closed for the A season February 28, 2023. •Hook-and-line CV >=50 ft-NMFS closed directed fishing March 22, 2024. NMFS set aside about 200 mt for incidental catch in IFQ fisheries. The 2024 A season allocation is 849 mt compared to 618 mt in 2023. Current catch is 702 mt. In 2023, directed fishing closed for the A season March 17, 2023. •Jig-The 2024 A season allocation is 185 mt compared to 67 mt in 2023. Under the final 2024 harvest specifications the jig allocation for the Western GOA increased by 1% to 3.5% of the Western GOA TAC in 2024. There has been some effort, and NMFS expects more effort in the next week. In 2023, the jig directed fishing April 28, 2023. •Pot CV/CP-NMFS close directed fishing February 9, 2024. Nineteen CVs reported 3,014 mt. Catch rates increased towards the end of the fishery. The 2024 A season allocation is 2,698 mt compared to 1,963 mt in 2023. In 2023, directed fishing for the A season closed February 26, 2023. •Non-Rockfish Program Trawl CV-NMFS closed directed fishing April 16, 2024. The 2024 A season allocation is 3,828 mt compared to 2,785 mt in 2023. Thirty-seven CVs have reported 3,567 mt. In 2023, directed fishing was closed for the A season. •Trawl CP-The 2024 A season allocation is 303 mt compared to 221 mt in 2023. The 2024 A season is closed to directed fishing, because the total A season allocation is needed to support incidental catch in other target fisheries. In 2023, directed fishing was closed all year. Western GOA - the jig allocation for the Western GOA increased by 1% to 3.5% of the Western GOA TAC in 2024 •Hook-and-line CP-The 2024 A season allocation is 644 mt compared to 550 mt in 2023. There has been some effort and 76% has been reported. In 2023, the A season directed fishing closed June 10, 2023 by regulation. •Hook-and-line CV-NMFS closed directed fishing effective January 1, 2024 because the total A season allocation is needed to support incidental catch in other target fisheries. The 2024 A season allocation is 41 mt compared to 36 mt in 2023. In 2023, directed fishing was closed all year. •Jig-The 2024 A season allocation is 129 mt compared to 78 mt in 2023. About 13% of the A season has been reported in 2024. In 2023, the jig fishery closed August 2, 2023. •Pot CV/CP-NMFS closed directed fishing effective February 19, 2024. The 2024 A season allocation is 1,170 mt compared to 1,009 mt in 2023. Four vessels reported 1,205 mt. In 2023, directed fishing closed for the A season February 1, 2023. •Trawl CV-The 2024 A season allocation is 1,863 mt compared to 1,607 mt in 2023. Sixteen CVs have reported 1,297 mt as of March 16, 2024. In 2023, directed fishing for this sector closed March 4, 2023. •Trawl CP-NMFS closed directed fishing effective January 1, 2024 because the total A season allocation is needed to support incidental catch in other target fisheries. The 2024 A season allocation is 53 mt compared to 46 mt in 2023. In 2023, directed fishing was closed all year. SALMON PSC A weekly catch report shows the total GOA salmon PSC for trawl gear GOA-wide and the Chinook salmon PSC limits for pollock and non-pollock in the Western and Central GOA. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports-alaska The 2024 Western/Central GOA Chinook Salmon trawl CP limit is 4,080 Chinook salmon because the 2023 trawl CP Chinook salmon PSC did not exceed 3,120 Chinook salmon. The 2024 Western/Central non-pollock/non-Rockfish Program GOA Chinook Salmon trawl CV limit is 3,060 Chinook salmon because the 2023 Chinook salmon PSC did not exceed 2,340 Chinook salmon. Pollock Fisheries 2024 2023 WGOA Chinook Salmon 1,001 0 CGOA Chinook Salmon 4,963 3,984 620 4,350 3,288 630 613 696 W/C GOA Chinook Salmon 2024 2023 Trawl CV Non-Pollock, Non-RP 2 937 Trawl CP 340 26 HALIBUT MORTALITY Halibut PSC limits The 2024 trawl halibut mortality is 88 mt compared to 99 mt for the same time period in 2023. The 2024 hook-and-line halibut mortality is 15 mt compared to 24 mt for the same time period in 2023. Deep and Shallow Water Trawl Fishery Categories for Halibut PSC For deep-water fisheries, the halibut mortality is 77 mt out of the 2nd seasonal limit of 391 mt, and for shallow-water is 11 mt out of the 470 mt limit. The 3rd seasonal limit becomes available at noon, A.l.t., July 1, 2024. 2024 IFQ/CDQ HALIBUT AND SABLEFISH SEASON The 2024 IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery opened at 12 noon, Alaska local time, March 15, 2024 and the closure date is 12 noon, Alaska local time, December 7, 2024. The IPHC announced the 2024 halibut IFQ season dates are the same, but the time of day is different. see https://www.iphc.int