Groundfish Allocation Committee

The Groundfish Allocation Committee (GAC) is charged with developing options for allocating certain groundfish species among the commercial and recreational sectors and among gear groups within the commercial sector. The purpose of the GAC is to distribute the harvestable surplus among competing interests in a way that resolves allocation issues on a short- or long-term basis.

The GAC is composed of voting members who sit on the Council (one representative each from the California, Oregon, and Washington management agencies, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Council Chair). NOAA Northwest Regional Counsel provides legal advice. In addition, there are seven non-voting members representing the non-whiting trawl, whiting trawl, fixed gear, open access, and recreational sectors; conservation groups; and processors.