Smaller fishing boats get a bigger share of Alaska's Pacific cod catch

The US government is reallocating some of the Pacific cod quota in Alaskan waters. This means smaller boats using specific gear types will get to catch more fish that larger boats using different gear were not using.

Fishing quotas are often set years in advance, and sometimes the boats assigned a quota cannot catch all their fish. This rule ensures that the total allowable catch for Pacific cod is actually harvested, preventing waste. It also shifts economic opportunity to smaller, local fishing operations.