They say good things come in small packages and that’s the case for Alaska cod fishermen heading into the new year.

A small cod fishery will occur in Gulf state waters (out to three miles) for 2020, putting to rest speculation that no cod would be coming out of the Gulf next year.

A catch quota of about 5.6 million pounds, down from 10.2 million pounds, will be split among five regions: Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet, Kodiak, Chignik and the South Alaska Peninsula, with limitations on gear and staggered openers.

That will be a relief to thousands of Alaskans whose jobs are tied to the fishin...