Our Mission

Current Issues (2/3/18):

RQE. At the December 8, 2016 meeting the Council took final action and adopted the Recreational Quota Entity (RQE). The RQE allows charter interests to purchase a limited amount of commercial quota share in area 2A/3A. The program can be implemented once the FINAL RULE is published by NMFS.

Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA) H.R.200 - Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act was adopted by the House Resources Committee on December 13, 2017. This bill falls short of holding all sectors accountable for staying with harvest limits. Senator Dan Sullivan (Alaska) is working on the Senate version and a working copy is expected to be available soon. We are working to ensure the Senate version does not create loop holes that do hold all sectors accountable for their harvest limits.

NPFMC Allocation Review. The NPFMC is scheduled to review the allocation between the longline and charter sectors for areas 2C/3A in 2021.

NOAA Seeks Nominations for Halibut Commission
NOAA Fisheries seeks nominations to fill two non-NOAA commissioner seats on the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Through the IPHC, the United States and Canada jointly manage the Pacific halibut fishery. Commissioners serve 2-year terms and may be reappointed. Nominations are due February 28. Current non-government Commissioners are Bob Alverson and Linda Behnken.

Halibut Calendar

Feb 28, 2018 19th Session of the IPHC Research Advisory Board (RAB19)

May 7, 2018. 11th Session of the IPHC Management Strategy Advisory Board (MSAB11)

Jun 19, 2018 12th Session of the IPHC Scientific Review Board (SRB12)

Sep 25, 2018 13th Session of the IPHC Scientific Review Board (SRB13)

Nov 25-26. Interim Meeting, Seattle, WA

Jan 28- Feb 1, 2019. Annual Meeting, BC

2011 Charter Operators vs Locke (Halibut Charter Limited Entry)

• Bench Order Denying Preliminary Injunction on Limited Entry (CHP) (4/26/11)
• Plaintiffs reply in support of their motion for PI (4/18/11)
• Federal response to motion for PI (4/12/11)
  
• Plaintiffs complaint for review of action and PI (4/4/11)
  
• Plaintiffs memo in law for support of PI (4/4/11)
  
• Plaintiffs motion for PI (4/4/11)

2009 Charter Lawsuit

The Halibut Coalition Speaks Out

• Halibut Coalition Comments to NPFMC on Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (9/25/12)
  
  
• Halibut Coalition Comments on Catch Sharing Plan Proposed Rule (9/21/11)
  
  
• Compass: Keep halibut catch sharing facts in mind (9/19/11) By Brent Western
  
  
• Point/Counter Point. Without plan, commercial fleet unfairly burdened (9/3/11)
  
  
• Halibut Coalition Comments on SBA Involvement in 37" Charter Halibut Rule (6/8/2011)
  
  
• Halibut Coalition Requests International Pacific Halibut Commission hold 2C Charter to GHL (12/30/10)
  
  
• Halibut Coalition Speaks Out on Halibut Charter Moratorium Rule (6/4/09)
  
  
• Fact or Fiction? Halibut Fishing in Southeast Alaska (5/26/09)
  
  
• The One Halibut Per Day Charter Rule: The Facts (5/20/09)

In the News:

• IPHC on Preliminary NMFS Observer Data (11/25/13)

• 2010 NMFS Report to the Halibut and Sablefish Fleets (8/19/11)

• Coaliton Asks Council to Urge NMFS to Take Action to Keep 2C Charter Fleet Within GHL in 2010 (12/7/09)

• Commercial fishermen face 26% decrease in halibut limit (12/15/09)

• Halibut allocation battle to continue in Washington court (8/7/09)
  
  
• Halibut charters unlikely to win, D.C. judge says (6/26/09)
  
  
• Judge upholds one-fish limit for Southeast halibut charters (6/4/09)
  
  More "In the News" articles