Pacific Halibut Sport Fishing by Guided Sport Charter Vessels in Alaska - Federal Register Rules and Notices

Final Rule

This action revises the 2020 regulations for guided Pacific halibut sport fishing in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Regulatory Areas 2A, 2C, and 3A. The revised regulations supersede the vessel application deadline previously published in Section 15 Paragraph 9, and guided halibut sport fishing management measures previously published in Section 29 of the 2020 annual management measures. No other regulations of the 2020 Pacific halibut management measures are changed by this action.

Background

The harvest of halibut in Alaska occurs in three fisheries — the commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries. The commercial halibut fishery is managed under the IFQ Program. The sport fishery includes guided and unguided anglers. Guided anglers are commonly called “charter” anglers because they fish from chartered vessels. Throughout this preamble, the term “charter fishery” is used to refer to the fishery prosecuted by guided anglers. The subsistence fishery provides an opportunity for rural residents and members of an Alaska Native tribe to retain halibut for personal use or customary trade.

The following sections of the preamble summarize charter fishery management. Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the RIR prepared for this action provides additional detail on charter halibut management programs that have been implemented in Areas 2C and 3A.