The National Marine Fisheries Service has put in place a temporary prohibition on retention of Pacific cod by catcher/processors using trawl gear in the central regulatory area of the Gulf of Alaska. The rule will remain in effect through Dec. 31.
NMFS officials said the action was necessary effective Nov. 19 because the 2018 Pacific cod apportionment for catcher/processors using trawl gear in the central Gulf of Alaska has been reached.
The 2018 Pacific cod apportionment for catcher/processors using trawl gear in the central Gulf is 253 metric tons, as established by final 2018-2019 harvest specifications for groundfish in the Gulf.