At this meeting, the Council reviewed an initial review analysis for limiting the mixing of guided and unguided halibut on a fishing vessel. Alternatives for consideration include: 1) no action; 2) prohibit the possession of guided and unguided halibut simultaneously on any vessel; and 3) if halibut harvested using sport fishing guide services is on a vessel with halibut harvested without using sport fishing guide services, in IPHC Area 2C or 3A, the IPHC annual management measures for guided sport fishing for that area apply to all halibut onboard the fishing vessel.
After reviewing the initial review analysis and recommendations from the Enforcement Committee and the Advisory Panel, the Council released the document for public review. The Council also revised the purpose and need statement to clarify that this action applies to fishing vessels and not floating lodges. The Council selected Alternative 3 as its preliminary preferred alternative, and recommended the analysis be revised to include the following additional information:
- Staff and Enforcement Committee revisions, except the recommendation to include a new suboption 2.1.
- Changes that led to an increase in multi-day and mothership operations, and increasing potential for mixing halibut.
- The regulatory history of current prohibitions on mixing halibut in the commercial, subsistence, and sport fisheries.
- Description of mothership sport halibut operations in areas 2C and 3A.
Staff contact is Jon McCracken.
