🎣Temporary Fishing Closure for Pollock in Gulf of Alaska
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.
Learn More🌊Draft Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Options for Alaska State Waters
NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) collaborated with NOAA NMFS to initiate a marine spatial planning study to identify draft Aquaculture Opportunity Area (AOA) Options within State waters of southeast, southcentral, and southwest Alaska as part of the AOA identification process. An AOA is a defined geographic area that has been evaluated to determine its potential suitability for commercial aquaculture. NOAA is identifying AOAs as directed by Executive Order, "Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth" (May 7, 2020). This notice invites public comment on the preliminary results of the marine spatial planning study including the identification of draft AOA Options in Alaska State waters. NMFS will consider information received in response to this notice when finalizing the results of the marine spatial planning study, and may or may not identify AOAs after further public participation and review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Learn More🛢️Alaska LNG Project Application and Public Intervention Notice
The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation and Glenfarne Alaska LNG filed for the transfer of project authorizations for the Alaska LNG Project. The notice establishes deadlines for public intervention and outlines participation processes, providing stakeholders with ways to engage in the regulatory review and potential investment opportunities related to the project.
Learn More🎣Correction to Halibut and Sablefish Fishing Cost Recovery Fees
NMFS is correcting the 2024 Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Cost Recovery Fee Notice. The published ex-vessel fishery value and actual fee percentage were incorrect. The original document was published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2024, and all other information remains unchanged and will not be repeated in this document.
Learn More🎣New Regulation on Shortraker Rockfish for Alaska Fisheries
NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) except by catcher/ processors checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who are fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit. This action is necessary because the 2025 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish for vessels other than these catcher/processors has been reached.
Learn More🎣Temporary Closure of Recreational Fishing for Chinook Salmon in Alaska
NMFS is prohibiting recreational fishing for Chinook salmon in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary for the conservation of Cook Inlet Chinook salmon stocks that continue to be in a low state of abundance as assessed in the NMFS 2025 stock assessment and fisheries evaluation (SAFE) report and the 2025 State of Alaska forecasts of very low run strength.
Learn More🐬Incidental Harassment Authorization for Geotechnical Surveys in St. George, Alaska
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to incidentally harass marine mammals during geotechnical drilling in St. George, Alaska.
Learn More🐟Cost Recovery Fee Notice for Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program
NMFS publishes the standard ex-vessel prices and fee percentage for cost recovery under the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program). This action is intended to provide participants in a rockfish cooperative with the standard prices and fee percentage for the 2024 fishing year, which was authorized from May 1 through November 15. The fee percentage is 3.00 percent. The fee payments were due from each rockfish cooperative on or before February 15, 2025.
Learn More🎣NMFS Opens Fishing for Pacific Cod in Alaska's BSAI Management Area
NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors (CPs) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to AFA trawl CPs in the BSAI.
Learn More🐋Regulations on Marine Mammal Taking for Alaska LNG Project
NMFS has received a request from 8 Star Alaska, LLC (8 Star Alaska), a subsidiary of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC), for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to construction of the Alaska LNG Project in Cook Inlet, Alaska over the course of 5 years beginning on January 1, 2026. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of 8 Star Alaska's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and associated Letter of Authorization (LOA). NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on 8 Star Alaska's application and request.
Learn More