Guided sport fishing (also known as charter fishing) for Pacific halibut is managed jointly through the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). The Council has a role in developing annual management measures (e.g., bag limits and size restrictions for charter-caught halibut) as well as recommending the details of the broader management structure for this fishery.
In 2011, the Charter Halibut Limited Access Program established federal Charter Halibut Permits (CHPs) for operators in the charter halibut fishery in regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). Since this time, all charter halibut vessel operators in Areas 2C and 3A with clients onboard must have a valid CHP onboard during every charter vessel fishing trip. CHPs must be registered each year to be valid.
In 2014 the Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) replaced the Guideline Harvest Level program to allocate halibut between charter and commercial fisheries in IPHC Areas 2C and 3A. The CSP, among other things, establishes an annual process for allocating halibut between the charter and commercial halibut fisheries in Area 2C and Area 3A that varies according to halibut abundance and considers the needs of charter and commercial halibut fisheries.
Each year in October, the Charter Halibut Management Committee meets to develop potential management alternatives for the charter halibut fishery in Area 2C and Area 3A. Potential management measures are evaluated by the Alaska Department of Fish &Game to estimate their impact on charter halibut catch. The Charter Halibut Management Committee then recommends management measures to the Council, based on the ADF&G analysis, in December of each year. The Council reviews and identifies their preferred management measures at the December meeting and proposes those measures to the International Pacific Halibut Commission at their annual meeting in January. Once approved by the IPHC, the management regulations are published by NOAA Fisheries.
Photo Courtesy Richard Yamada
Charter Halibut Management Committee
The Charter Halibut Management Committee provides recommendations to the Council on any issue affecting charter halibut management off Alaska, in addition to annual recommendation on management measures. Membership of the Committee represents a diversity of charter halibut fishing communities and operational types in Areas 2C and 3A.
Staff contact is Sarah Marrinan: 907-271-2814