Proposed rule · 2026-22695

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Amendment 128 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 116 to the FMP for the Groundfish Fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska; Small Sablefish Release

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted amendment 128 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) and amendment 116 to the FMP for Groundfish fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, these amendments would increase operational flexibility to allow vessels fishing for sablefish with fixed gear under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program or Western Alaska Community Development (CDQ) Program to release sablefish and would revise the annual allocation process to account for sablefish discards. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the BSAI and GOA FMPs, and other applicable laws.