The commercial Pacific halibut fisheries have been managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program since 1995. 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.
Charter Halibut Management Committee
The Charter Halibut Management Committee provides recommendations to the Council on any issue affecting charter halibut management off Alaska. Membership of the Committee represents a diversity of charter halibut fishing communities in Areas 2C and 3A.
On an annual basis, the Committee recommends regulations for the Council to consider in its recommendations for managing the charter fishery in Areas 2C and 3A. The Committee meets each October to develop its recommendations for the upcoming year. Estimates of halibut catch under the proposed harvest measures are then evaluated by ADF&G staff and are presented to the Council for action at their December meeting.
Staff contact is Sarah Marrinan