The Council received reports reviewing the Gulf of Alaska sablefish pot fishery and recommendations from the IFQ committee. The GOA sablefish pot review summarized 3-4 years of fishery data as well as information gathered from speaking with fishery participants, managers, and stock assessment scientists. The review and subsequent testimony highlighted aspects of the fishery management… Read More →
IFQ Access Opportunities
The Council reviewed an expanded discussion paper on an IFQ Access pool of halibut and sablefish quota share that would facilitate entry level opportunities for crew and owner-operators, and took no further action. The discussion paper outlined an access pool that would target entry level fishermen, defined as those owning less than 5,000 pounds of… Read More →
IFQ Rollover Increase & Season Extension
The Council considered two emergency IFQ fishery modifications that would have (1) temporarily increased the 10% cap on the year-to-year rollover of uncaught IFQ pounds, and (2) extended the IFQ Program to a “year-round” fishery. The Council chose not to take action on either proposal at this time. The Council indicated that it does not… Read More →
IFQ Vessel Caps
The Council passed a motion requesting that the Secretary promulgate emergency regulations to remove vessel use cap regulations for IFQ halibut harvested in IPHC regulatory Areas 4B, 4C, and 4D for the remainder of the 2020 IFQ fishing season. This action does not modify other aspects of the IFQ Program. The Council determined that due… Read More →
IFQ Transfer Provisions
The Council considered a NMFS analysis of three proposed options to modify IFQ Program temporary transfer provisions. The first two options would have altered the application of the existing medical transfer provision. The third option – selected by the Council – is a recommendation for an emergency action to allow the temporary transfer of IFQ… Read More →
Call for Nominations
IFQ Committee The Council is soliciting for two new IFQ Committee members. The IFQ Committee is a standing advisory body comprised of vessel owner/operators, crew, processors, and trade group representatives (including vessel owners’ associations and CDQ groups). The Committee meets independently – though sometimes in conjunction with a Council meeting – and discusses the merits… Read More →
CQE Fish Up in Area 3A
The Council took final action to allow eligible CQE residents in Area 3A to fish halibut IFQ derived from CQE-held D class QS on C or D class vessels in Area 3A beginning on August 15th each year. This action provides flexibility for CQEs to potentially avoid revenue loss and is intended as a fallback… Read More →
IFQ Access Opportunities- Global Examples
The Council reviewed a discussion paper outlining domestic and international examples of programs that facilitate access opportunities for rural communities and new entrants within limited access fisheries and tasked staff to come back with an expanded paper. The Council requested this discussion paper at the June 2018 meeting in response to information from the IFQ… Read More →
IFQ Committee Report and Whale Depredation Workshop
The IFQ Committee met on Monday, April 1, and reviewed three documents that came before the Council at this meeting: CQE fish-up in halibut Area 3A, IFQ eligibility criteria, and small sablefish discards. Committee comments and recommendations were presented to the Council under each agenda item and are summarized in the minutes. The Committee’s other… Read More →
IFQ Medical & Beneficiary Transfer Provisions
The Council reaffirmed its preliminary preferred alternatives and options after reviewing the Public Review draft of proposed changes to the medical transfer and designated beneficiary transfer provisions of the halibut and sablefish IFQ programs. While this agenda item had originally been scheduled for final action at this meeting, the Federal government shutdown prevented the February… Read More →
