In response to a recommendation by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, this action would allow smaller hook-and-line or pot catcher vessels operating in the Federal Bering Sea and Aleutian Island (BSAI) Pacific cod (Gadus macrophalus) less than 60’ hook-and-line or pot catcher vessel sector to harvest Pacific cod from the BSAI Pacific cod jig sector’s allocation. Under the current regulations, the BSAI Pacific cod jig sector only includes jig catcher vessels and catcher processors. The proposed amendment would redefine the current Federal BSAI Pacific cod jig sector to add hook-and-line and pot catcher vessels that are less than or equal to 55’ length overall to the current definition. This proposed action is needed because of reduced Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC), shortened seasons for the less than 60’ hook-and-line and pot catcher vessel Pacific cod sector, and the inability of these smaller vessels to compete with larger vessels during poor weather. As such, the proposed action would likely provide a small benefit to a small number of fishery participants (those with smaller vessels). This action could provide stability and additional opportunities for current fishery participants and potential new entrants with smaller hook-and-line or pot catcher vessels without negatively impacting vessels that operate in the jig sector. However, larger hook-and-line or pot vessels could be negatively impacted by the proposed action, which would likely impact the historically common reallocations of projected unused Pacific cod allocation from the jig sector to the less than 60’ hook-and-line or pot catcher vessel sector. The authority for this action is Section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.