Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

Published

Sep 9, 2026

Effective

Sep 4, 2026

Citation

91 FR 57274

Docket

Docket No. 260305-0066, RTID 0648-XG028

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Temporary rule; closure.

Summary

The rule temporarily bans any directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian district of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. The closure is meant to keep harvests from exceeding the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) that has been set for that species and region, ensuring the fishery remains sustainable. The regulation was issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It applies specifically to vessels that are part of the Bering Sea‑Aleutian Islands (BSAI) trawl limited‑access sector fishery—essentially the commercial trawlers that normally target bottom‑dwelling species in that area. The rule was published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2026 (91 FR 57274) and took effect retroactively on September 4, 2026. Because it is a temporary closure, the restriction remains in place until NMFS determines that the TAC will not be exceeded, at which point the agency may lift the ban or adjust it. No separate comment deadline is noted in the notice, so the closure is already operational.

AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.

Topics

Share