The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) is one of eight regional councils (www.fisherycouncils.org) 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 NOTICE: Staff Fishery Economist

Upcoming Committee and Other Related Meetings

Public comment via email now accepted for upcoming meetings at: npfmc.comments@noaa.gov
Comments must be for an item on the agenda and must identify the specific agenda item by number (C-1(a) for example). Comments must also include the submitter's name, affiliation, and date and must be submitted before the stated deadline. PDF attachments will be accepted.

Council Mailing: February 22, 2013
NPRB Call for Nominations

Items FROM FEBRUARY 2013 meeting

Items FOR FEBRUARY 2013 meeting

Council Mailing: January 8, 2013; January 22, 2013; January 25, 2013

Items FROM DECEMBER 2012 meeting

Items FOR DECEMBER 2012 meeting

Items of Interest

Research Priorities 7/12