Halibut/Sablefish IFQ Program
The Pacific halibut and sablefish fixed gear fisheries have been managed under the individual fishing quota (IFQ) program since 1995. The program assigns the privilege of harvesting a percentage of the annual halibut and sablefish quota to specific individuals with a history of harvest in the fisheries. At the time of implementation, the access privilege granted to each participant was proportional to their fixed gear halibut and sablefish landings during the qualifying period, and are represented as quota shares (QS). Quota shares are transferable. Under this program, only persons holding quota shares are allowed to make fixed gear landings of halibut and sablefish in the regulatory areas identified. There are several key provisions of the program: the process for initial allocation of QS; assignment of shares to vessel categories; share transfer provisions; quota share use and ownership limits; QS ‘blocks’ to mitigate excessive consolidation; a process for allocating annual IFQ based on participants’ QS; and the establishment of Community Quota Entities (CQE). Staff contact is Sam Cunningham: 907-271-2809.
- NOAA Fisheries: IFQ Program
- NOAA Fisheries: IFQ Halibut/Sablefish Reports
- International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC)
IFQ Committee
The IFQ Committee provides recommendations to the Council regarding potential future revisions to the IFQ program. Membership is intended to represent a broad range of stakeholders in the IFQ fisheries, including representatives from both the halibut and sablefish fisheries, representation covering multiple areas, and IFQ processors. The current membership includes: Cora Campbell (chair), Jerry Dahl, Craig Evens, Jeff Farvour, Dave Fraser, Natasha Hayden, Jeff Kauffman, Linda Kozak, Buck Laukitis, Bob Linville, Shawn McManus, Michael Offerman, Peggy Parker, Jeff Peterson, Matt Robinson, and Erik Velsko. Staff contact is Sam Cunningham, 907-271-2809.
The Council maintains a list of ongoing and yet-to-be-scheduled analytical tasks related to the IFQ Program, available here (updated November 2020).
The IFQ Committee will next meet in a virtual setting on Thursday, March 25, 2021; Friday March 26 is also reserved if necessary. The agenda is yet to be determined but will include the IFQ Access discussion paper and the GOA sablefish IFQ pot fishery review, among other items. Continue to visit NPFMC.org for updates.
Recent Events
On February 10, 2021 the Council requested that NMFS take three separate emergency actions relating to the IFQ Program. NMFS is maintaining a webpage that describes the actions, will link to updates on implementation if the actions are approved, and answers frequently asked questions. The three IFQ emergency action recommendations concern:
- Allowing temporary transfer of catcher vessel halibut and sablefish IFQ for all individual quota share holders for the 2021 fishing season
- Removing the vessel use cap for IFQ halibut harvested in IPHC Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D for the 2021 fishing season
- Suspending the residency requirements that apply to the Adak Community Quota Entity (CQE) for 2021
On May 15, 2020 the Council held a special session to address stakeholder requests for emergency action relating to challenges brought on by the public health emergency. The Council recommended two actions that affect the IFQ fisheries:
- Allow temporary transfer of IFQ for all quota share holders for the remainder of the 2020 fishing season – Analysis; MOTION
- Final Rule: 85 FR 38100, June 25, 2020
- Temporarily remove vessel use caps for IFQ halibut harvested in Areas 4B, 4C, and 4D for the remainder of the 2020 fishing season – Memo; MOTION
- Final Rule: 85 FR 41197, July 8, 2020
On February 20, 2020 the Alaska Fisheries Science Center hosted interested stakeholders and the public for presentations and discussion on analyses of sablefish ABC apportionment across the six Alaska management areas (SE, WY, CG, WG, BS, AI). The SSC will address this topic at its online meeting (June 1-3) and provide feedback to inform the harvest specifications process for the 2021 fishing year.
Newsletter Articles
- IFQ Rollover Increase & Season Extension (5/19/2020)
- IFQ Vessel Caps (5/19/2020)
- IFQ Transfer Provisions (5/19/2020)
- Call for Nominations (6/13/2019)
- CQE Fish Up in Area 3A (6/13/2019)
- IFQ Access Opportunities- Global Examples (6/13/2019)
- IFQ Committee Report and Whale Depredation Workshop (4/12/2019)
- IFQ Medical & Beneficiary Transfer Provisions (2/15/2019)
- Halibut in Pots (10/11/2018)
- IFQ CQE Fish Up in Area 3A (10/11/2018)
Recent Council Motions:
2020 May Motion on Temporary IFQ Transfer
2020 May Motion on Temporary Suspension of Vessel Use Caps in Areas 4BCD
2019 December Motion on Small Sablefish Release
2019 October Motion on Halibut Abundance-Based Management PSC Limits
2019 June Motion on IFQ Access Opportunities (Global Examples)
2019 June Motion on Area 3A CQE Fish-up Public Review (Final Action)
2019 April Motion on Area 3A CQE Fish-up Initial Review
2019 April Motion on Small Sablefish Release Discussion Paper
2019 April Motion on IFQ Eligibility Requirements Discussion Paper
2019 April Motion on Medical Transfer and Beneficiary Designation Public Review
2018 October Motion on Halibut Abundance-Based Management PSC Limits
2018 October Motion on Small Sablefish Release Discussion Paper
2018 October Motion on Area 3A CQE Fish-Up Discussion Paper
2018 October Motion on Medical Transfer Provisions
2018 October Motion on Halibut Retention in Pots
2018 June Motion on Global Examples of IFQ Access Program
2018 June Motion on Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Options to Promote QS Transfer to Skippers and Crew
Previous Council actions are accessible under Council Documents and Motions at the bottom of this page.
Minutes and other Items of Interest:
2019 April Committee Meeting Minutes
2019 April Whale Depredation Workshop Description and Summary Report
2018 June IFQ Outreach Meeting (Kodiak) Summary
2018 February: Committee Proposals; Meeting Minutes
2017 October Committee Meeting Minutes
2017 January Meeting Minutes, Briefing Materials, Presentation on rural participation (Carothers-UAF)
2015 December Committee Meeting Minutes
2013 December: PVOA and KVOA Proposals 10/13, Discussion Papers: GOA Sablefish Pots, Sablefish Freezer Longliner Use Cap
2012 March: Agenda; Minutes; Status Report on discussion papers for IFQ Proposals, Hubbard Proposal
2009 September Committee Meeting Agenda; Minutes; Motions
Internal Links
- Community Quota Entity Program
- Community Development Quota Program
- Halibut Charter Management
- Recreational Quota Entity Committee
- Halibut Charter Stakeholder Committee
- Charter Management Implementation Committee
Council Documents and Motions
2020
- Emergency Rule Recommendation: Temporarily Modify Transfer Provision NMFS Analysis and Motion 5/20
- Emergency Rule Recommendation: Temporarily Remove Vessel Use Caps in Halibut Areas 4BCD Memo and Motion 5/20
2019
- Small Sablefish Release Discussion Paper and Motion 12/19
- BSAI Halibut Abundance-Based Management PSC Limits Initial Review/SIA and Motion 10/19
- IFQ Access Opportunities (Global Examples) Discussion Paper and Motion 6/19
- Area 3A CQE Fish-up Public Review and Motion 6/19
- Area 3A CQE Fish-up Initial Review and Motion 4/19
- Small Sablefish Release Discussion Paper and Motion 4/19
- IFQ Eligibility Requirements Discussion Paper and Motion 4/19
- Medical Transfer and Beneficiary Designation Public Review and Motion 4/19
2018
- Small Sablefish Release Discussion Paper and Motion 10/18
- BSAI Halibut Abundance-Based Management PSC Limits Council Motion 10/18
- IFQ CQE fish up in 3A Discussion Paper and Motion 10/18
- Halibut Retention in BSAI pots Public Review and Motion 10/18
- IFQ Outreach Meeting (Kodiak) Summary 6/18
- Council Motions 6/18: QS Transfer Provisions and IFQ Access Global Examples
- IFQ Committee Minutes 2/18
- Committee Proposals 2/18
- Council Motions 2/18: Medical Lease; Beneficiary Designation; Eligibility Requirement; Hired Master Use; Area 3A CQE Fish-Up
- Discussion Papers: Medical Lease; Beneficiary Designation 2/18
2017
- Motion on NMFS cost recovery reporting 10/17
- IFQ Committee minutes, Council motion 10/17
- NMFS report on cost recovery fees 10/17
- Data reports on unfished sweepable blocks and quota share movement 10/17
- BSAI Halibut Retention discussion paper 10/17
- Halibut IFQ Leasing by CDQ Groups in Area 4A, Public Review draft, Council motion 6/17
- Motion for discussion papers and data request 2/17
2016
- IFQ Program 20 Year Review 12/16: Full Document; Executive Summary
- Motion for completion of the IFQ Program review 10/16
- Motion from IFQ Program Review for IFQ Committee consideration 10/16
2015
- IFQ Program Review Outline 12/15
- Halibut Leasing by CDQ Groups, Motion 12/15
- Area 4A Halibut Retention in BSAI Sablefish Pots 12/15
- Area 4A Halibut Retention in BSAI Sablefish Pots Expanded Discussion Paper 4/15; Errata; IPHC Comment
- GOA Sablefish Longline Pots EA/RIR/IRFA for Public Review 4/15; Supplement to Section 4.5.6; IPHC Comment; Council Motion
2014
- GOA Sablefish Longline Pots EA/RIR/IRFA for Initial Review 12/14; Enforcement Committee Minutes; Council Motion
- Vessel IFQ Cap Discussion Paper 12/14
2013
- Gear Committee Minutes 9/13
- GOA Sablefish Longline Pots Discussion Paper 12/13; Council Motion
2012
- Area 4A Halibut Retention in BSAI Sablefish Pots Discussion Paper 12/12
- CQE small block 12/12; Council motion
- Area 4B Fish-up IFQ RIR/IRFA for Public Review 4/12
- CQE Program in Area 4B RIR for Public Review 2/12
2011
- CQE Program in Area 4B RIR for Initial Review 12/11; Council Motion;
- Hired Skipper RIR/IRFA for Public Review 4/11; Council Motion
- Hired Skipper RIR/IRFA for Initial Review 2/11; Council Motion
- 3A CQE Purchase D QS RIR for Public Review 2/11
2010
- December; 3A CQE purchase D shares motion; 4B CQE program; CQE Area 4B Disc. Paper;
Area 3A CQE Purchase D Shares; - November: Allow IFQ from Category D QS to be fished on Category C vessels in Area 4B Analysis;
- March: CQE Program Review
2010 Proposals: 1) F/V Megabite: allow transport of fish on a catcher vessel via trailer to the buyer; 2) APICDA and CBSFA: increase halibut vessel IFQ cap in Area 4; and 3) GOAC3: allow CQEs to participate in the federal loan program; 4) allow Adak to be an AI CQE community
2009
- Interagency Staff Review of IFQ Proposals and IFQ Implementation Team Recommendations 10/09
- Status of Medical Transfer Provision 10/09
2009 Proposals: Halibut/Sablefish Proposal form; Herbert, Snell proposals; Miles (sunset); Miles (10%) Adak CDC. GOAC3; Late IFQ proposals: Clipper Seafoods (sablefish A share changes); Deep Sea Fishermans Union (remove 2 block limit); Odegaard (Heritage Vessels); Offerman (2nd generation/1st generation rights) Farvour (D class vessels notice to deliver)
2006
- Changes to Halibut/Sablefish IFQ program (Omnibus V); (Proposed Rule; Final Rule effective 3/17/08)
2004
-
- December: Omnibus IV motion 12/04; Analysis 11/04; Final rule effective 9/10/07
- Community Quota Entity program Final Rule effective 6/1/04; NMFS site
