According to a SeafoodSource report in August 2026, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) has announced its 2026 quota adjustments, drawing wide attention from the global whitefish market. The most striking change: the Gulf of Alaska pollock Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was slashed by 25%, while the Bering Sea pollock quota remains largely stable.
Gulf of Alaska Quota Cut Sharply
The NPFMC said the Gulf of Alaska cut is based on stock assessments by NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center, which show a significant decline in pollock biomass in the region, requiring a more conservative harvest strategy to protect stock recovery.
Pacific Cod quotas were also trimmed slightly, from 23,670 MT to 21,826 MT. The Council has specifically asked the Alaska Fisheries Science Center to conduct the cod stock assessment earlier in 2026 (originally scheduled for autumn) and may adjust quotas mid-season based on the results.
"The Gulf of Alaska cut, together with early signals of declining Bering Sea biomass, may herald challenges ahead for the pollock industry. The market needs to prepare for potential supply tightening." — Industry analyst
Bering Sea: The Ballast of Global Pollock Supply
In stark contrast to the Gulf of Alaska, quota decisions for the Bering Sea — the world's most important pollock fishery — were relatively steady. The NPFMC described the Bering Sea pollock quota as "mostly steady," providing the market with a degree of certainty.
On the Russian side, TINRO expects Russia's 2026 Bering Sea pollock season (opened May 16) to produce around 500,000 MT in total, roughly on par with recent years — meaning the core fundamentals of global pollock supply remain intact for now.
Implications for China and Asia-Pacific Markets
The direct impact of the Gulf of Alaska cut on Asia-Pacific markets is relatively limited, as Alaska pollock raw material imported by China mainly comes from the Bering Sea. However, the signal sent by the quota adjustment deserves attention: global pollock stock management is becoming stricter, which may push up raw material procurement costs in the long run.
In addition, a bipartisan budget bill recently passed by the US Congress allocates more than USD 105 million to NOAA, explicitly including USD 3.5 million for a genetic analysis project aimed at reducing chum salmon bycatch in Alaska's commercial pollock fishery — reflecting growing US investment in sustainable fisheries management.
Market analysis suggests the quota cuts will gradually feed through to raw material prices in the second half of the year. Buyers should track quota execution across regions and build supply flexibility into Q3 procurement plans to weather potential volatility.