The Council reviewed an initial review document that would adjust Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. The intent of the proposed action is to adjust Amendment 113 such that the prosecution of the BSAI Pacific cod fishery aligns with the Council’s original objective… Read More →
IFQ Medical and Beneficiary Transfers
After reviewing the initial draft analysis of the medical transfer and beneficiary lease provisions, the Council approved a preliminary preferred alternative for each issue and added an option to the medical transfer provision. The final Council motion, including all amendments, is available here. Preliminary preferred alternatives selected for the medical transfer provision would replace the… Read More →
IFQ CQE Fish Up in Area 3A
The Council reviewed a discussion paper on whether to allow Community Quota Entities (CQEs) in Area 3A to fish D-class halibut IFQ on C-class vessels. Current regulations that restrict CQE ability to fish “D” class quota on “C” class vessels have, in some circumstances, limited the CQE community’s access to fish CQE halibut, particularly in… Read More →
Small Sablefish Discarding
The Council reviewed a discussion paper that considered modifying the requirement to retain sablefish in the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) longline and pot fisheries. The Council’s request for the discussion paper was responsive to public testimony in April 2018 that the IFQ fishery was experiencing an increase in catch of small sablefish due to an… Read More →
Unguided Halibut Rental Boats
The Council reviewed a discussion paper to explore mechanisms to create a registry for motorized rental boats that are used by unguided anglers to harvest halibut in IPHC regulatory areas 2C and 3A, and initiated an analysis. The Council requested the discussion paper in December 2017, and stated that they were concerned that differences in harvest… Read More →
Staff Tasking
In addition to discussing the relative priority and scheduling of previously tasked projects, the Council requested staff prepare a series of letters to NMFS: providing feedback on the National Bycatch Report. providing feedback on the National Observer Safety Report that was recently issued, emphasizing the need for regionally-based response. requesting additional funding for observer days… Read More →
Upcoming meetings
Subscribe to our Calendar Feed » Joint Protocol Committee, October 17, 2018, Anchorage, AK Charter Halibut Management Committee meetings, October 30, 2018 and December 3 or 4, 2018 (T) Trawl EM Committee meeting, November 19-20, IPHC office, Seattle, WA BSAI and GOA Groundfish Plan Team meetings, November 13-16, AFSC, Seattle, WA Halibut Stakeholder Committee –… Read More →
