The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) is one of eight regional councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976 (which has been renamed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act) to oversee management of the nation's fisheries.

With jurisdiction over the million square mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska, the Council has primary responsibility for groundfish management in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI), including cod, pollock, flatfish, mackerel, sablefish, and rockfish species harvested mainly by trawlers, hook and line longliners and pot fishermen.

The Council also makes allocative and limited entry decisions for halibut, though the U.S. - Canada International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) is responsible for conservation of halibut. Other large Alaska fisheries such as salmon, crab and herring are managed primarily by the State of Alaska.


In the News

Vacancy Announcements: Fishery Analyst, Fishery Economist

Items FROM the February meeting

GOA Chinook non-pollock PSC Limits Motion
CQE in Area 4B Motion
PIBKC Rebuilding Motion
HAPC Designation for ares of Skate Egg Concentration Motion
Crab EDR Motion

Items FOR the February meeting

Draft Agenda: February 1-7, 2012, Seattle Renaissance Hotel; Listen live HERE when the meeting is in session.

Items FROM the December meeting

Newsletter 12/11


Items of Interest

NPFMC-IPHC workshop on Halibut Bycatch Estimation, Halibut Growth and Migration, & Effects on Harvest Strategy – April 24-25, 2012 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Seattle

Final 2012-2013 Specifications for GOA and BSAI Groundfish 12/11
Final BiOp Independent Review 8/11
National SSC Workshop report