Alaska shifts Pacific cod quotas to different fishing boats to avoid leaving fish in the ocean

The US government is reallocating how much Pacific cod different types of fishing boats can catch in a specific area off Alaska. This change ensures that the total allowed amount of fish is actually caught, rather than left in the ocean because some boats hit their limits early.

Fishing quotas are often set by gear type or boat size, which can lead to situations where some parts of the fleet can't catch their full allocation. This means fish are left in the water even when the overall quota has not been met. This reallocation allows more efficient parts of the fleet to catch the remaining fish, preventing economic losses for the fishing industry and ensuring the resource is fully utilized within sustainable limits.