Federal fisheries officials have halted Pacific cod harvests through Dec. 31 for catcher vessels 50 feet in length and larger using hook-and-line gear in the Central Gulf of Alaska to be sure their harvest stays within the 382 metric ton total allowable catch.
National Marine Fisheries Service posted notice in the Federal Register in mid-November, saying the temporary rule was necessary because that portion of the harvest allocated to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet in length would soon be reached.
Advertisement
