After reviewing a discussion paper overviewing reasons for unused Pacific cod (sometimes referred to as stranded cod) and options for reducing unused Pacific cod in the BSAI and GOA, the Council postponed indefinitely any further action on this discussion paper. The Council noted that several of the issues included in the discussion paper will be addressed in many of the upcoming Council Pacific cod actions.
The purpose of the paper was to outline the process for reallocating Pacific cod, and options for NMFS and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game to facilitate the harvest by state and federal fishery participants of unused allocation of Pacific cod in guideline harvest level (GHL) fisheries, with a focus on the Aleutian Island Subdistrict GHL fishery. Other issues noted in the discussion paper included options for addressing impediments to complete harvest of Pacific cod allocations in the federal fisheries, including incidental catch allowance (ICA) for the hook-and-line and pot gear in the BSAI, ICA in the GOA, GOA Rockfish Program allocations, and Amendment 80 allocation.
Staff contact is Jon McCracken.
