Environmental Assessment of a Regulatory Amendment to Increase Pacific Halibut Quota Share Use Limits
February 18, 1997
This action would increase Pacific halibut quota share (QS) use limits for QS holders in the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program in Regulatory Area 4 in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.
By increasing the personal use limit from one-half percent to one and one-half percent, current QS holders would be allowed to increase their QS and provide an incentive to harvest halibut in remote areas of the western Bering Sea. The intended effect is to improve profits for IFQ halibut fishermen operating in Area 4.