Our Mission

Current Issues (8/23/18):

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; draft final rule is at NOAA HQ.

Magnuson Stevens Act Reauthorization. H.R. 200 has passed the House on July 11. Awaiting introduction of a Senate version by Senator Dan Sullivan.

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

Annual renewal of charter halibut permits. Draft rule is in early stages. Earliest implementation is 2020.

Halibut rental boats. A discussion paper is due for presentation at the October Council meeting.

2019 Halibut Charter Management Measures are scheduled for final action at the December Council meeting.  

Halibut Calendar

• Sep 19-20, 2018. Draft Agenda for the 2018 Session of the IPHC Work Meeting (Closed to the public)
  
  
• Sep 25, 2018. 13th Session of the IPHC Scientific Review Board (SRB13)
  
  
• Oct 3-9, 2018. NPFMC, Anchorage (Halibut issues: unguided halibut rental boats, halibut retention in BSAI pots, abundance-based PSC limits). Alaska Airlines Discount Code: ECMZ245 Hilton Hotel offers discounted rooms under the NPFMC room block. Please click HERE to reserve a room.
  
  
• Oct 22-25, 2018. 12th Session of the IPHC Management Strategy Advisory Board, IPHC Seattle
  
  
• Nov 27-28. IPHC Interim Meeting, Seattle, WA /Webcast
  
  
• Dec 3-11. NPFMC, Anchorage (Halibut issues: 2019 charter management issues, IFQ medical leases), Anchorage
  
  
• Jan 28- Feb 1, 2019. IPHC Annual Meeting, Victoria, BC
  
  
• Feb 27, 2019. 20th Session of the IPHC Research Advisory Board, IPHC Seattle
  
  
• May 6-9, 2019. 13th Session of the IPHC Management Strategy Advisory Board, IPHC Seattle

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