June 11, 2014 — The National Marine Fisheries Service is soliciting public comment on a plan to survey charter operators about the halibut catch sharing plan implemented this summer, particularly the provision that allows charter operators to lease quota from the commercial sector.
The catch sharing plan divides the halibut catch limit in Area 2C, or Southeast Alaska, and Area 3C, or Southcentral, between the charter and commercial fishing sectors. The International Pacific Halibut Commission sets the limit for each area in January.
Under the CSP, the charter allocations range from 15.9 percent to 18.3 percent in Southeast and 14 percent to 19.9 percent in Southcentral, with the higher percentages kicking in at lower levels of abundance and the lower percentage at greater abundance.
The CSP also includes a provision — the guided angler fish, or GAF program — that allows commercial quota holders to lease their quota to charter operators. Then charter operators can offer their clients additional fishing opportunity.
Read the full story at the Alaska Journal of Commerce