2026 Rockfish Program Cooperative Allocations for Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fishery
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued official notification of the Rockfish Program cooperative allocations for 2026, implementing harvest quotas established in the final rule published on March 11, 2026. These allocations govern the commercial harvest of rockfish and associated groundfish species in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska, specifically within the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The cooperative allocations are designed to maximize economic opportunities for commercial fishermen participating in the Rockfish Program, a sector-based management approach that allows fishing cooperatives to pool their quota shares and fish more efficiently. By providing defined catch amounts per cooperative, NMFS enables better planning, reduced waste, and improved safety at sea. These specifications are consistent with the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP) and fall within the broader 2026–2027 harvest specifications and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits established for the GOA groundfish fishery. The notification ensures regulatory compliance and operational readiness for the 2026 fishing season.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- NMFS officially notified Rockfish Program cooperative allocations for the 2026 fishing season, effective from the March 11, 2026 final rule
- Harvest specifications and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits established for both 2026 and 2027 for GOA groundfish fishery
- Cooperative quota amounts defined to allow commercial fishermen to pool and plan rockfish harvest within the EEZ off Alaska
+ 2 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
Rockfish Program cooperatives must not exceed their allocated cooperative catch amounts for rockfish and associated groundfish species in the Gulf of Alaska for 2026
Commercial fishermen participating in the Rockfish Program must comply with the harvest quotas specified in the final rule published on March 11, 2026
Rockfish Program cooperatives must not exceed the prohibited species catch (PSC) limits established for the 2026–2027 GOA groundfish fishery
All fishing activities in the Rockfish Program must remain consistent with the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP)
Rockfish Program cooperatives must conduct commercial harvest operations only within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska in the Gulf of Alaska as specified