NMFS closes directed Pacific cod for larger hook-and-line boats in Central GOA

NOAA Fisheries Information Bulletin IB 26-32 says directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall or greater using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska is prohibited effective 12 noon Alaska local time, Sept. 1, 2026.

The Federal Register rule (Sept. 1) says the action is needed to keep that sector from exceeding its 2026 total allowable catch. NMFS set a directed fishing allowance of 1,187 metric tons and set aside 200 mt for incidental catch supporting other groundfish fisheries; once the directed allowance is reached, directed fishing stops. While the closure is in effect, maximum retainable amounts under 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) still apply during a trip. The prohibition runs through Dec. 31, 2026.

This is a commercial management action, not a sport bag-limit change — but it is the kind of in-season groundfish move that reshapes what boats bring alongside for the rest of the year.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: NOAA Fisheries IB 26-32 (Aug. 27, 2026); Federal Register 2026-17854 (Sept. 1, 2026).