Halibut/Sablefish IFQ Program

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 directed halibut and sablefish fisheries, representation covering multiple areas, and IFQ processors. Members appointed at the December 2016 meeting include: Jared Bright, Jeff Farvour, Dave Fraser, Natasha Hayden, Jeff Kauffman, Nicole Kimball, Linda Kozak, Buck Laukitis (Chair), Bob Linville, Shawn McManus, Michael Offerman, Peggy Parker, Matt Robinson, and Erik Velsko. Staff contact is Sam Cunningham, 907-271-1283.

IFQ Outreach Meeting – June 5, 2018 5pm-6:30pm – Kodiak, AK

Newsletter Articles

IFQ Medical Transfer Provision (2/20/2018)
IFQ Beneficiary Designation (2/20/2018)
IFQ Committee (2/20/2018)
IFQ Committee (10/17/2017)
Halibut Retention in Pot Gear (10/17/2017)
IFQ Leasing by CDQ Groups (6/20/2017)
IFQ Committee (2/14/2017)

Recent Council Motions:

2018 February Motion on Medical Lease Provision
2018 February Motion on Survivorship Beneficiary Designation
2018 February Motion on Hired Master Use
2018 February Motion on QS Eligibility Recency Requirement
2018 February Motion on Area 3A CQE Fish-Up
2017 October Motion on NMFS cost recovery reporting
2017 February Motion for discussion papers and data request

Minutes and other Items of Interest:

February 2018: Committee Proposals; Meeting Minutes
October 2017: Meeting Minutes
January 2017: Meeting Minutes, Briefing Materials, Presentation on rural participation (Carothers-UAF)
December 2015: Meeting Minutes
December 2013: PVOA and KVOA Proposals 10/13, Discussion Papers: GOA Sablefish Pots, Sablefish Freezer Longliner Use Cap
March 2012: Agenda; Minutes; Status Report on discussion papers for IFQ Proposals, Hubbard Proposal
September 2009: Agenda; Minutes; Motions

Internal Links

The Pacific halibut and sablefish fixed gear fisheries have been managed under the individual fishing quota (IFQ) program since 1995. The program essentially assigns the privilege of harvesting a percentage of the annual sablefish and halibut quota to specific individuals with a history of harvest in the fisheries. The ‘rights’ given to each person are proportional to their fixed gear halibut and sablefish landings during the qualifying period, and are represented as quota shares (QS). 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; use and ownership provisions; QS ‘blocks’ to further guard against excessive consolidation; the process for allocating annual IFQ based on participants’ QS; and the establishment of Community Development Quotas (CDQ). Staff contact is Sam Cunningham: 907-271-1283.

Council Documents and Motions

2018

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

2017

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

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 12/15

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