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Regulations at 50 CFR 660.131 (h) provide for the reapportionment of Pacific whiting Tribal allocations that the Regional Administrator determines will not be used by the end of the fishing year.
On Sept 14, 2026, NMFS took action to reapportion 9,565 metric tons (mt) of the 2026 Tribal allocation of 49,130 mt of Pacific whiting to the non-Tribal commercial sectors, leaving a revised Tribal allocation of 39,565 mt. NMFs again took action on September 23, 2026 to reapportion an additional 9,565 mt of the 2026 Tribal allocation leaving a revised allocation of 30,000 mt. This notice announces the third such reapportionment of Tribal Pacific whiting to the non-Tribal sectors for 2026.
Best available information indicates that an additional 10,000 mt of the revised 2026 Tribal allocation of 30,000 mt of Pacific whiting will not be used by December 31, 2026. Reapportioning this amount to the non-Tribal sectors is expected to allow for greater attainment of the U.S. Total Allowable Catch. The non-Tribal commercial sectors have expressed an interest in this potential for additional 2026 harvest of Pacific whiting. In addition, recent conversations between NMFS and Tribal fishery managers indicate that reapportioning 10,000 mt leaving a revised Tribal allocation of 20,000 mt will not limit Tribal harvest opportunities for the remainder of the year.
NMFS is taking action at this time to reapportion 10,000 mt of Pacific whiting Tribal allocations to the non-Tribal commercial fishery sectors. Reapportionments are disbursed to the non-Tribal fishery sectors in the same proportion as each sector's allotted portion of the fishery harvest guideline specified in the regulations at 50 CFR 660.55(i)(2). In the Shorebased IFQ program, whiting quota pounds will be allocated to quota share accounts as soon as feasible.
Effective 3:45 pm (15:45) PST, on October 5, 2026, 10,000 mt of Pacific whiting are reapportioned from the Tribal allocation to the non-Tribal commercial Pacific whiting fishery. The revised Pacific whiting allocations by sector for 2026 are listed below:
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Allocation (share)
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Reapportionment (mt)
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Revised 2026 Sector Allocations (mt)
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C/P Coop Program
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34%
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3,400
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88,397.89
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MS Coop Program
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24%
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2,400
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62,398.51
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Shorebased IFQ Program
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42%
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4,200
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109,197.40
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Total reapportioned
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10,000
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As required under the 2017 Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) biological opinion on the effects of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan on listed salmonids and regulations at 50 CFR 660.131(h)(5), NMFS considered the number and bycatch rate of Chinook salmon taken in the Pacific whiting fishery. Based on the best available information in October 2026, NMFS determined there is low risk that the reapportionment will cause the Pacific whiting sector fisheries to exceed both the guideline limit of 11,000 and reserve of 3,500 Chinook salmon under current regulations and practices. At the time of this notice, incidental take of Chinook salmon by the non-Tribal sectors is less than 25% of the guideline limit. NMFS will continue to monitor Chinook salmon bycatch as part of in-season management.
The initial 2026 Pacific whiting allocations are detailed in the May 11, 2026 Final Rule for 2026 Pacific Whiting Harvest Specifications, 2026 Tribal Allocation, and 2026 Incidental Set-Aside (91 FR 25511).
Questions?
Contact Colin Sayre, Pacific Whiting Treaty Coordinator, at colin.sayre@noaa.gov or (206) 526-4656
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