Federal Register #2026-06796

NMFS Regulatory Actions: Pacific Cod Fishing Closure and Summer Flounder Quota Transfer

This notice from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA under the Department of Commerce, details regulatory actions affecting commercial fishing in the Gulf of Alaska and the Atlantic coast: - Government Buyer: - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce - Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Regulatory Actions: - Temporary closure of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska - Purpose: Prevent exceeding the 2026 A season total allowable catch (TAC) of 5,233 metric tons - Applies to: Catcher vessels using trawl gear - Closure period: April through September (specific dates provided in the rule) - Transfer of 894 pounds of commercial summer flounder quota from Virginia to Massachusetts for the 2026 fishing year - Adjusted quotas: Virginia – 2,434,000 lb; Massachusetts – 1,041,297 lb - OEMs and Vendors: - No OEMs or commercial vendors are mentioned; this is a regulatory action, not a procurement - Products/Services Requested: - No products or services are being procured - Unique or Notable Requirements: - The closure is implemented under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act - A portion of the TAC is reserved for incidental catch to support other groundfish fisheries - Specific retainable amounts apply during the closure period - Locations: - Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (federal fishery management area) - Commonwealth of Virginia and Commonwealth of Massachusetts (quota transfer participants) - Note: - This is a regulatory notice, not a solicitation for goods or services.

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is issuing a temporary rule to prohibit directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska. This closure is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to these vessels. The prohibition is effective from April 7, 2026, through September 1, 2026, and aims to support sustainable fishery management under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

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