The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the March 15, 2024, season opening of the sablefish fixed gear fisheries managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open at 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 15, 2024, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2024. These dates are the same as the IFQ and CDQ season for Pacific halibut adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC).
However, there is a difference in the time of day for opening and closing the halibut IFQ and CDQ commercial fishery and the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish commercial fishery. IPHC regulations open the halibut IFQ and CDQ fishery at 0600 hours, A.l.t., on March 15, 2024, and NMFS will open the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery at 1200 hours, A.l.t., on March 15, 2024. Therefore, if gear is deployed to fish for halibut in the commercial fishery off Alaska before 1200 hours, A.l.t., on March 15, 2024, then IFQ or CDQ sablefish caught from that deployment may not be retained. If a vessel operator holds both halibut and sablefish IFQ or CDQ, and the operator intends to retain sablefish on March 15, then the vessel should deploy its commercial fishing gear after 1200 hours, A.l.t.
IPHC regulations close the halibut IFQ and CDQ fishery at 2359 hours, A.l.t., on December 7, 2024, and NMFS will close the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery at 1200 hours, A.l.t., on December 7, 2024. Therefore, if gear is deployed to fish for halibut in the commercial fishery off Alaska after 1200 hours, A.l.t., on December 7, 2024, then IFQ and CDQ sablefish caught from that deployment may only be retained up to the Maximum Retainable Amount (MRA). If a vessel operator holds both halibut and sablefish IFQ or CDQ, and the operator intends to retain sablefish on December 7, 2024, after 1200 hours, A.l.t., then the vessel may only retain IFQ or CDQ sablefish in accordance with the MRA regulations at § 679.20(e).
This method of season announcement was selected to facilitate coordination between the sablefish season, chosen by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and the halibut season, adopted by the IPHC. This action is taken pursuant to 50 CFR 679.23(g)(1).
This information bulletin only provides notice of a fishery management action. For the purposes of complying with any requirements of this action, you are advised to see the actual text of the action in the Federal Register.
