Pollock quota could jump 13%

The US Bering Sea pollock total allowable catch (TAC) could rise as much as 13 percent next year, thanks to a recommendation from the groundfish plan team on Thursday.

The team recommended an acceptable biological catch (ABC) of 1.375 million metric tons. The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council will make the final recommendation -- which cannot be higher than the ABC -- in early December.

The 2012 ABC was 1.22 million metric tons. The increase comes due to an increase in the biomass estimate, which last year's plan team had predicted, plan team member Jim Ianelli told IntraFish.