Fishery summary as of February 22, 2024 NMFS Alaska Region Inseason Management Juneau: Obren Davis 907 586 7241 Mary Furuness 907 586 7447 Kurt Iverson 907 586 7210 Abby Jahn 907 586 7416 Steve Whitney 907 586 7269 (Rockfish Program, Amendment 80) Adam Zaleski 907 586 7650 Dutch Harbor: Krista Milani 907 581 2062 2024 CATCH REPORTS The 2024 catch reports usually updated on Thursday are available here. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports STATUS OF FISHERIES https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/status-of-fisheries 2024 TACS AND PSC LIMITS The 2024 TACs and PSC limits from the final 2023/2024 harvest specifications are still effective, except for pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel that are the TACs recommended by the Council at their December 2023 meeting. See pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel Inseason Adjustments at: BSAI - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-12-26/pdf/2023-28323.pdf GOA - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-12-26/pdf/2023-28323.pdf Final 2023/2024 harvest specifications at: GOA https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-03-02/pdf/2023-04315.pdf BSAI https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-03-10/pdf/2023-04877.pdf Final 2024 OFLs, ABCs, TACs from the December 2023 Council meeting will be effective in early March 2024. The Council's recommended 2024/2025 TACs may be found on the Council's website at: BSAI https://meetings.npfmc.org/CommentReview/DownloadFile?p=4a4957a2-d822-404d-99eb-f67ffa200ff5.pdf&fileName=C3%20Motion.pdf GOA https://meetings.npfmc.org/CommentReview/DownloadFile?p=bfc7ed5d-d90d-4364-bd4d-00a6b867aad5.pdf&fileName=C4%20Motion%20-%20GOA%20Specs.pdf 2024 catch data is through February 17, 2024 and 2023 catch data is through February 18, 2023 unless otherwise noted. BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (AI) POLLOCK - directed fishing opened by regulations January 20, 2024. At their December 2023 meeting, the Council recommended the 2024 TAC for Bering Sea pollock of 1,300,000 mt, the same as in 2023. NMFS reallocated anticipated unused pollock TAC from the AI to the Bering Sea CDQ (1,900 mt) and the AFA directed fishing allowances (11,860 mt). Pollock for all AFA sectors and CDQ 2024 2023 A season mt A season mt 01/20 4,276 01/21 7,651 01/27 46,655 01/28 62,518 02/03 52,048 02/04 53,620 02/10 56,455 02/11 62,192 02/17 54,513 02/18 55,245 Total 213,948 241,226 ANNUAL SALMON PSC IN THE BERING SEA POLLOCK FISHERY The 2023 Chinook salmon PSC limit for the pollock fishery is 45,000 Chinook. Annual Chinook Salmon in the pollock fishery 2024 2023 AFA 1,465 6,072 CDQ 450 790 Total 1,915 6,862 Annual Non-Chinook Salmon in the pollock fishery 2024 2023 AFA 200 291 CDQ 67 57 Total 267 348 PACIFIC COD At their December 2023 meeting, the Council recommended the 2024 Pacific cod TAC of 147,753 mt in the Bering Sea and 8,080 mt in the Aleutian Islands compared to the 2023 Bering Sea TAC of 127,409 mt and Aleutian Islands TAC of 8,425 mt. Aleutian Islands Pacific cod (non-CDQ) See 2024 non-CDQ Pacific cod total catch at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports-alaska Western AI Limit of Pacific cod The 2024 Pacific cod Western AI Limit is 2,233 mt until the final 2024/2025 harvest specifications are effective. Hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear Pacific cod Hook-and-line catcher/processors (CPs) The hook-and-line CPs operate under a voluntary cooperative. The 2024 annual allocation is 67,370 mt compared to 58,753 mt in 2023. In 2023, this sector remained open all year. 2024 A Season Week mt # of CPs 1/06 389 7 1/13 1,300 13 1/20 2,223 15 1/27 1,510 13 2/03 2,179 16 2/10 2,335 17 2/17 2,064 17 A season Total 12,000 17 A season TAC 34,359 Remaining 22,359 Hook-and-line CVs >= 60 feet length overall (LOA) In 2023, there was a no directed fishing. Pot CVs >= 60 ft The 2024 A season allocation is 5,926 mt compared to 5,168 mt in 2023. The 2024 A season fishing is slow with 4 CVs reporting 1,841 mt compared to 2023 when 22 CVs reported 5,085 mt in 2 weeks and the closure of the fishery. In 2023, the A season directed fishing closed January 12, 2023. Pot CPs The 2024 A season allocation is 1,058 mt compared to 923 mt for the 2023 A season. There has been no 2024 A season fishing. In 2023, the A season directed fishing closed March 22, 2023. Less than 60 ft hook-and-line or pot CVs NMFS closed directed fishing January 25, 2024. Seventeen vessels reported 4,118 mt. The 2024 annual allocation is 2,767 mt compared to 2,413 mt in 2023. NMFS reallocated 1,100 mt from the 2024 jig sector's A season allocation for a total of 3,867 mt. In 2023, NMFS reallocated an additional 950 mt from the jig sector A season allocation for a total of 3,360 mt, and 20 CVs participated. The first closure was January 16, 2023. Jig Gear The 2024 jig A season allocation is 1,169 mt compared to 1,019 mt in 2023. NMFS reallocated 1,100 mt from the jig sector to the < 60 ft hook-and-line/pot CV sector. This leaves 69 mt for the jig sector A season. In 2023, the jig sector remained open all year with no catch reported. Trawl gear Pacific cod Directed fishing opened by regulations at noon, A.l.t., January 20, 2024. The 2024 A season allocations are 22,758 mt in 2024 compared to 19,837 mt in 2023 for trawl CVs, 2,400 mt for 2024 compared to 2,092 mt in 2023 for AFA CPs, and 13,985 mt in 2024 compared to 12,191 mt in 2023 for the Amendment 80 cooperative. In 2024, there is one Amendment 80 cooperative and no 2024 Amendment 80 limited access sector. NMFS is closing directed fishing for Pacific cod by AFA CPs in 2024 because the annual allocation is needed to support incidental catch in other target fisheries. In 2024, the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program is effective. The PCTC Program's 2024 A season directed fishing allowance is 21,258 mt and incidental catch allowance for other fisheries is 1,500 mt. NMFS published in the proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications that the AI set-aside will not be in effect for 2024. An incidental catch report for trawl CV Pacific cod is available here - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/akro/car135_bsai_non_cdq_ica2024.html In 2024, CVs started fishing under the PCTC Program February 1. Sixteen trawl CVs have reported 4,709 mt for the PCTC Program through February 17, 2024. All trawl CV Pacific cod catch 2024 2023 mt # of CVs mt # of CVs 01/20 1 11 01/21 2 12 01/27 33 48 01/28 69 58 02/03 544 54 02/04 87 60 02/10 1,333 59 02/11 2,628 73 02/17 3,123 60 02/18 5,165 75 A season Total 5,034 65 7,950 78 ATKA MACKEREL NMFS published an inseason adjustment, so the 2024 BSAI Atka mackerel TACs will be effective January 1, 2024. See Inseason Adjustments above. FLATHEAD SOLE AND ROCK SOLE The trawl flathead sole and rock sole fisheries for CDQ and Amendment 80 cooperatives open at noon, A.l.t., January 20, 2024. The final 2024 TACs from the December 2023 Council recommendation will be effective in late February or early March 2024. YELLOWFIN SOLE The trawl yellowfin Sole fisheries for CDQ, BSAI trawl limited access, and Amendment 80 cooperative open at noon, A.l.t., January 20, 2024. The final 2024 TACs from the December 2023 Council recommendation will be effective in late February or early March 2024. BSAI FLATFISH, ATKA MACKEREL, PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH (POP) (includes CDQ), AND TRAWL SABLEFISH (no CDQ) Species 2024 2023 Alaska plaice 945 1,211 Arrowtooth 98 242 Other flatfish 231 375 Flathead sole 852 929 Greenland turbot 0 2 Kamchatka flounder 5 8 Rock sole 3,211 4,519 Yellowfin sole 11,390 14,546 Total Flatfish 16,732 21,832 Atka mackerel 4,123 3,120 POP 193 287 Trawl Sablefish 1 12 Non-CDQ BLACKSPOTTED AND ROUGHEYE ROCKFISH (Rougheye rockfish) A weekly report is available to monitor total catch of blackspotted/rougheye rockfish in the Western Aleutian Islands (WAI) at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports-alaska For 2024, the maximum species specific catch recommended in the Western Aleutian Islands is 61 mt. All sectors are requested to avoid blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. HALIBUT PSC Trawl The 2024 trawl halibut mortality is 233 mt compared to 329 mt for the same time period in 2023. In 2024, the BSAI trawl limited access sector (TLAS) includes BSAI TLAS, AFA pollock and PCTC Programs. In 2023, BSAI TLAS includes BSAI TLAS and AFA pollock. All trawl gear by Management Program 2023 Total – 233 mt A80 181 mt, CDQ 15 mt, BSAI TLAS 4 mt, PCTC 29 mt, AFA pollock 4 mt 2023 Total – 329 mt A80 231 mt, CDQ 13 mt, BSAI TLAS 71 mt, AFA pollock 14 mt Non-Trawl Hook-and-line gear halibut PSC is 27 mt compared to 2023 at 25 mt. GULF OF ALASKA POLLOCK The 2024 annual pollock TACs are 610 - 38,882 mt, 620 - 90,937 mt, and 630 - 50,587 mt compared to the 2023 annual pollock TACs are 610 - 26,958 mt, 620 - 77,005 mt, and 630 - 33,729 mt. The trawl A season opened January 20, 2024. Below are the A season allocations. In area 610, 5,422 mt is available for the A season compared to 1,685 mt in 2023. Some effort has started after vessels voluntarily stood down for better catch rates. As of February 22, 2024, 8 CVs have reported 637 mt. In 2023, the A season did not open for directed fishing. In area 620, 70,918 mt is available for the A season compared to 58,039 mt in 2023. Twenty-seven CVs have reported 8,878 mt as of February 22, 2024. In 2023, the A season closed March 20, 2023. In Area 630, 13,862 is available for the A season compared to 9,121 mt in 2023. Seven CVs have reported 592 mt as of February 22, 2024. In 2023, the A season closed May 31, by regulation. In Area 640, 5,565 is available for the A season compared to 6,843 mt in 2023. There has been some effort. PACIFIC COD Under the final harvest specifications the jig allocation for the Western GOA will increase by 1% to 3.5% of the Western GOA TAC in 2024. The Central GOA the jig allocation will increase by 1% to 2% of the Central GOA TAC in 2024. All other sectors will decrease. Central GOA •Hook-and-line CP-The 2024 A season allocation is 628 mt compared to 452 mt in 2023. In 2023, directed fishing closed for the A season June 10, 2023 by regulation. •Hook-and-line CV <50 ft-The 2024 A season allocation is 1,424 mt compared to 1,026 mt in 2023. CVs have reported 71 mt. In 2023, directed fishing closed for the A season February 28, 2023. •Hook-and-line CV >=50 ft-The 2024 A season allocation is 858 mt compared to 618 mt in 2023. CVs have reported 46 mt. In 2023, directed fishing closed for the A season March 17, 2023. •Jig-The 2024 A season allocation is 93 mt compared to 67 mt in 2023. Under the final harvest specifications the jig allocation for the Western GOA will increase by 1% to 3.5% of the Western GOA TAC in 2024. In 2023, the jig directed fishing April 28, 2023. •Pot CV/CP-NMFS close directed fishing February 9, 2024. Nineteen CVs reported 3,012 mt. Catch rates increased towards the end of the fishery. The 2024 A season allocation is 2,726 mt compared to 1,963 mt in 2023. In 2023, directed fishing for the A season closed February 26, 2023. •Trawl CV-The 2024 A season allocation is 3,867 mt compared to 2,785 mt in 2023. Twenty-nine CVs have reported 264 mt as incidental catch and in the Pacific cod target. In 2023, directed fishing was closed for the A season. •Trawl CP-The 2024 A season allocation is 306 mt compared to 221 mt in 2023. The 2024 A season is closed to directed fishing, because the total A season allocation is needed to support incidental catch in other target fisheries. In 2023, directed fishing was closed all year. Western GOA - the jig allocation for the Western GOA will increase by 1% to 3.5% of the Western GOA TAC in 2024 and all other sectors will decrease. •Hook-and-line CP-The 2024 A season allocation is 651 mt compared to 550 mt in 2023. NMFS expects some effort soon. In 2023, the A season directed fishing closed June 10, 2023 by regulation. •Hook-and-line CV-NMFS closed directed fishing effective January 1, 2024 because the total A season allocation is needed to support incidental catch in other target fisheries. The 2024 A season allocation is 42 mt compared to 36 mt in 2023. In 2023, directed fishing was closed all year. •Jig-The 2024 A season allocation is 92 mt compared to 78 mt in 2023. There has been no effort in 2024. In 2023, the jig fishery closed August 2, 2023. •Pot CV/CP-NMFS closed directed fishing effective February 19, 2024. The 2024 A season allocation is 1,182 mt compared to 1,009 mt in 2023. Four vessels reported 1,186 mt. In 2023, directed fishing closed for the A season February 1, 2023. •Trawl CV-The 2024 A season allocation is 1,882 mt compared to 1,607 mt in 2023. Twelve CVs have reported 523 mt as of February 22, 2024. In 2023, directed fishing for this sector closed March 4, 2023. •Trawl CP-NMFS closed directed fishing effective January 1, 2024 because the total A season allocation is needed to support incidental catch in other target fisheries. The 2024 A season allocation is 54 mt compared to 46 mt in 2023. In 2023, directed fishing was closed all year. SALMON PSC A weekly catch report shows the total GOA salmon PSC for trawl gear GOA-wide and the Chinook salmon PSC limits for pollock and non-pollock in the Western and Central GOA. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports-alaska The 2024 Western/Central GOA Chinook Salmon trawl CP limit is 4,080 Chinook salmon because the 2023 trawl CP Chinook salmon PSC did not exceed 3,120 Chinook salmon. The 2024 Western/Central non-pollock/non-Rockfish Program GOA Chinook Salmon trawl CV limit is 3,060 Chinook salmon because the 2023 Chinook salmon PSC did not exceed 2,340 Chinook salmon. Pollock Fisheries 2024 2023 WGOA Chinook Salmon 214 0 CGOA Chinook Salmon 3,450 896 620 2,959 887 630 491 9 W/C GOA Chinook Salmon 2024 2023 Trawl CV Non-Pollock, Non-RP 0 631 Trawl CP 0 0 HALIBUT MORTALITY Halibut PSC limits The 2024 trawl halibut mortality is 1 mt compared to 8 mt for the same time period in 2023. The 2024 hook-and-line halibut mortality is 0 mt compared to 7 mt for the same time period in 2023. Deep and Shallow Water Trawl Fishery Categories for Halibut PSC For deep-water fisheries, the 1st seasonal is 0 mt out of the 135 mt limit, and for shallow-water is 1 mt out of the 384 mt limit. The 4th seasonal limit becomes available at noon, A.l.t., August 1, 2023. 2024 IFQ/CDQ HALIBUT AND SABLEFISH SEASON The Regional Administrator will take into account the 2024 opening date of the halibut season when determining the 2024 opening date for sablefish. The IPHC announced the 2024 halibut IFQ season dates as March 15 to December 7, 2024, see https://www.iphc.int