Category: NPFMC

The omnibus spending bill approved by Congress before the end of the year included language to authorize the creation of a halibut stamp to fund a Recreational Quota Entity. This change to the Halibut Act means the Catch Sharing Plan will not be revisited by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Here is the 1,653 page bill, from pages 802-803: (a) IN GENERAL.—The North Pacific Fishery Management Council may recommend, and the Secretary of Commerce may approve, regulations necessary for the collection of fees from charter vessel operators who guide recreational anglers who harvest Pacific halibut in International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory areas 2C and 3A as those terms are defined in part 300 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations). (b) Read more…

NMFS published the emergency rule for the modified temporary transfer provision for the halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries making it effective June 25th. This liberalizes the transfers of IFQs for the 2020 season. Quota share holders that wish to use this provision need to fill out the Application for Temporary Transfer. Instructions for the transfer process are here. Read more…

As a result of the North Pacific Council action taken in December of 2019, beginning March 23, 2020, NMFS has new rockfish retention requirements. This action contains two main provisions: requiring full retention and landing of rockfish by CVs using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear while fishing for groundfish or halibut in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the BSAI or GOA, even if the species of rockfish is closed to directed fishing or on prohibited species status. limiting the amount of rockfish that can enter commerce, the maximum commerce allowance (MCA). The MCA would limit the amount of rockfish allowed to enter commerce through barter, sale, or trade. Rockfish in excess of these limits could not be sold but could be kept for personal use, donated, processed into fishmeal, Read more…

In Kodiak during the NPFMC meeting a public outreach session will be held concurrent with the June meeting. The session will be Tuesday, June 5, from 5 pm-6:30 pm in the Pavilion Room, and will provide an open forum for stakeholders to give insight on the present state of the halibut and sablefish IFQ Program and provide direction for future actions that might be considered by the Council and its IFQ Committee.    The Council is particularly seeking input on issues related to entry level opportunities and rural participation in the fishery. The listening session will be held in a round-table format chaired by Council member Buck Laukitis. NPFMC and Alaska Fisheries Science Center staff will provide an overview of findings in the 20-Year Program Review that relate to the session’s Read more…

The April NPFMC Newsletter is out.   In April the NP Council took final action and created an annual renewal process for chart halibut permits (CHPs). The is meant to provide the Council with more information on the CHP program and to facilitate retirement of non-transferable permits when ownership changes, and improve the ability of enforcement to ensure only valid permits are being used.   The NP Council also took action to restrict halibut harvested by sport fishing guide services and possessed with halibut harvested not using sport fishing guide services. Previously these two types of sport harvest had separate limits. Under the Councils new direction, guided and unguided halibut onboard one vessel are held to the stricter management measure of for guided sport fishing including bag Read more…

NMFS released this alert to Pacific cod fishermen warning of the 80% decrease in catch limits in the Gulf of Alaska for 2018 and how the cut affects various gear types.