Details:

Personal Author:
DiCosimo, Jane, 1959- ; Fina, Mark ; Balsiger, James W.
DiCosimo, Jane, 1959- ; Fina, Mark ; Balsiger, James W. Less -
Corporate Authors:
United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration., Office of Program Planning and Integration,
NOAA Program & Office:
NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) ; NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service)
NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) ; NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) Less -
Description:
This analysis examines proposed changes to the management of Pacific halibut in the charter fisheries and commercial setline fisheries in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Regulatory Areas 2C and 3A in the Gulf of Alaska. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) identified a need to develop a catch sharing plan (CSP) for the charter and commercial sectors to address conservation and allocation concerns in both areas. These concerns resulted from: 1) increased harvests in the charter halibut fishery, and 2) decreased catch limits in the commercial setline fisheries. The Council considered five alternatives and adopted a Preferred Alternative from among proposed CSP elements. The Council adopted its Preferred Alternative using the proposed charter allocations under Alternative 3 for Area 2C and the proposed charter allocations under Alternative 4 for Area 3A. The Council also adopted revised elements for a Guided Angler Fish Program, in which Charter Halibut Permit holders would be allowed to lease commercial Individual Fishing Quota in order to provide charter anglers with harvesting opportunities, not to exceed limits in place for unguided anglers. Annual management measures would be implemented each year through a cooperative program among state and Federal agencies. The Council also would request that the IPHC: 1) annually set a combined charter and commercial setline catch limit, to which the allocation percentage for each area would be applied to establish the domestic harvest allowances for each sector and 2) implement separate accountability of halibut removals for each sector. Upon implementation, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game logbooks would be used as the primary data source for estimating charter halibut harvest. The Council intends that the CSP would be implemented by National Marine Fisheries Service for 2014, which is the earliest possible timeline.
Keywords:
[+]
Catch Effort Environmental Impact Analysis Environmental Impact Statements Environmental Policy Fisheries Fishery Management Fishery Policy Government Policy Halibut Fisheries Overfishing Pacific Halibut Fishing
Document Type:
Environmental Assessment
Place as Subject:
United States ; Alaska ; Alaska, Gulf of ; Pacific Coast
United States ; Alaska ; Alaska, Gulf of ; Pacific Coast Less -
Rights Information:
Public Domain
Compliance:
Submitted
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:c312a8123a981d6081a4e678e4a5595538e3e68a0f982b49bb780e351eba9ff2
Download URL:
https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/4838/noaa_4838_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• NOAA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) home page

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