Federal Register #2026-06770

NOAA Announces 2026 Summer Flounder Quota Transfer and Pacific Cod Fishing Closure

This notice from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), via the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), details regulatory actions affecting commercial fisheries for 2026: - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Quota Transfer: - 894 pounds of commercial summer flounder quota transferred from Virginia to Massachusetts - Adjusted 2026 quotas: Virginia at 2,434,000 pounds; Massachusetts at 1,041,297 pounds - Transfer made to comply with the Fishery Management Plan and to address landings by an out-of-state vessel under a safe harbor agreement - Fishing Closure: - Prohibition of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska - Closure effective from April 7 to September 1, 2026, to prevent exceeding the 2026 total allowable catch of 5,233 metric tons - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved, as these are regulatory management actions, not procurement of goods or services - Notable Requirements: - Actions are taken to ensure compliance with federal fishery management plans and to maintain sustainable harvest levels - Adjustments are responsive to unforeseen variations in fishery operations and quota utilization

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a transfer of a portion of the 2026 commercial summer flounder quota from the Commonwealth of Virginia to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This quota adjustment is made to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) provisions. The transfer addresses an unforeseen variation in the fishery and ensures the overall annual quota is fully harvested. The revised quotas for 2026 are 2,434,000 pounds for Virginia and 1,041,297 pounds for Massachusetts.

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